Liquefied Petroleum Gas Firefighting Training

Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC), in conjunction with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs launched a comprehensive training program aimed to ensure that first responders are prepared for incidents involving liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The first component of the program, LPG Firefighting Awareness online training, will be offered free-of-charge by ERAC. Upon successful completion of the 11-module online awareness training, first responders can then enroll in the LPG Level 1 Mobile Operations training course.

ERAC offers the LPG Level 1 Mobile Operations 2-day curriculum to fire departments. The curriculum is based on NFPA standards and will consist of both classroom and live fire exercises using a mobile prop trailer owned and operated by ERAC.

LPG Firefighting Awareness Online Training

ERAC offers LPG Firefighting Awareness online training free-of-charge to all Canadian first responders. This training provides first responders with:

Knowledge to make safe and strategic risk management decisions
Understanding of non-intervention, offensive and defensive tactics when encountering an LPG fire emergencies
Informs of strategic and tactical considerations

Upon successful completion of the 11-module online awareness training, first responders can then enroll in the LPG Level 1 Mobile Operations training course.

Course format:

There are 11 modules within the online training and each module is followed by a test covering the content from the training modules. The modules include a total of 50 test questions, to pass, participants must correctly answer 40/50 questions (i.e. 80%).

To enroll in the LPG Firefighting Awareness online training, please visit www.erac.org/en/training-events/training/lpg-firefighting-training

LPG Level 1 Mobile Operations Training

The LPG Level 1 Mobile Operations training is a two-day course. The first day is classroom-based, where we will review 14 modules that cover every facet of LPG emergency management, including:

emergency response assistance plans (ERAPs) and regulations
the Emergency Response Guide
LPG products and their characteristics
cylinders and tanks
LPG trucks and transport
rail transportation
water flow requirements
gas detection
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosions (B.L.E.V.E.).

Day two will consist of two parts. Part one will be a review of commonly encountered LPG emergencies as scenarios. These four scenarios require firefighters to work through the strategy, risk mitigation, planning, problem solving, decision-making and incident action plans and tactics necessary to safely manage the situation. Part two will be hands-on training. Four propane training prop trailers will be used that simulate situations encountered in the field.

These will include:

Distribution system breaks (considerations, options and approach);
Motor vehicle fuel tank fires;
Building service meter flange fires; and
Cylinder or tank fires

Proper cooling techniques, safety valves, shut-offs, pressure relief valves and leak control and extinguishment techniques are reviewed and practiced throughout the remainder of the day including cooling, safe approaches, pressure relief valves (PRVs), shut off and egress.

If you are interested in hosting a course, please complete the LPG Level 1 Host Request Form or contact the OAFC Board Office at 905-426-9865.

You can choose to train those in your own fire department or host a course and open registration to surrounding departments. The OAFC is the coordinating body for the LPG Level 1 course in Ontario. There is a minimum of 16 participants required to host a course. Participants are required to take the LPG Firefighting Awareness online training before they take the LPG Level 1 Course.

For more information on the LPG Level 1 Mobile Operations training course, contact Louis-Philippe Ethier, Technical Advisor t at (514) 886-0984 or at lp.ethier@erac.org.