Xtreme fire training with the best in the business

Williams Fire & Hazard Control hosted its world renowned XTREME Industrial Fire & Hazard Training School on 25th – 29th September 2016, at the Gesip Fire Training Facility near Vernon, Northern France.

Attendees of the five-day course benefited from the combined experience of Williams’ renowned rapid response team, who have successfully fought over 200 of the industry’s most threatening flammable liquid fires during the last 34 years.

The course was designed to offer a comprehensive hands-on learning experience for those involved in operational industrial fire response at on-shore petroleum, oil and gas facilities and to benefit emergency response specialists and HSE managers. The participants were taught the latest methodology and fire behaviours using real life case studies and had the opportunity to tackle real pressure fed, hydrocarbon fuel, combined elevated tank and bund fires.

The Hot Course, which incorporated live fire exercises, was designed for those directly involved in operational roles, such as fire officers and municipal fire departments. The Cold Course was attended by specifying engineers, safety consultants, corporate safety specialists, Chief Fire Officers and CEOs.

In addition to learning fire behaviour and tactics from experienced industry specialists, participants also had access to hands-on training with the latest product innovations from Williams, including the impressive Ambassador 2X6 Gun Trailer, capable of discharge flow rates between 2000-6000 USGPM (7571-22700 LPM).

Williams is the only global company that responds to emergencies with its own hardware and specially formulated foam concentrate that are designed to exceed industry performance standards, know to Williams as compliance plus. As a result, the participants experienced the results of the learnt foam chemistry first hand.

Chauncey Naylor, Director for Training & Emergency Response Operations at Williams, commented: “When faced with fires at petroleum, oil or gas facilities we have learnt that it is experience that makes the difference and this course can be the perfect opportunity to gain that experience in a safe environment. Everything that we do is governed by in-depth knowhow whether it be designing new products, writing methodology or formulating new foam and we want to impart this knowledge on to as many people in the industry as we possibly can.”

In addition to learning from industry leading professionals at Williams, participants also benefitted from being able to discuss best practice and scenarios with their peers from across the sector. A participant on the course commented: “This course provided me with invaluable opportunities to ask all the questions I had ever had in relation to foam and the way it reacts with oil fires. If I had received input from Williams at the beginning of my career I would have done things a whole lot differently. It was great to be taught by the industry’s best.”

The Xtreme foam workshop was based at a foundation level with understandings of the methodologies, tactics and technology used to protect major petrochemical, tank storage Oil and gas industries globally. Classroom study and practical exercises covered various incident profiles and fire dynamics, including foam and dry chemical applications, response logistics, fire ground operations and large-volume equipment applications.

The classroom and laboratory presentations introduced participants to the fundamentals that make AR-AFFF foams so special, and why Williams insists on the very best performance in their foam of choice.

The ‘Live Fire’ training skill sessions / exercises involved pressure fed fires, combined elevated tank and bund fires with a 200m² fire area, hydrocarbon pressure fuel fires, all scenarios had been designed to typically replicate real fire ground conditions, use of coordinated foam applications and hydrochem applications, ground-monitor deployment and large volume Big Gun logistics.

Drawing from Williams’ recent response activity and the experience of leading fire professionals throughout industry, students were able to get a closer look at response events that have occurred around the world – assessing event characteristics, response methodology, and event impact.

An added bonus of the course was that students who successfully achieved the competency required have been issued with a certificate of competency from Texas A&M University.

For more information, go to www.williamsfire.com