I know that the topics you want included have been previously mentioned but i thought you might be able to provide a little more insight into exactly what each of those topics should contain. ie. ventilation- ppv, manual ventilation techniques etc.
Where would you base the course? Brukunga? Is the STC big enough to produce the facilities and still maintain the other courses that it runs there for accommodation and food etc.
Do we also need to look at Commercial structural training and domestic structural training?
Well, start with what we have initially.
OBAOC course is good. Spends a little too much time on things that are on the whole useless eg: Personal lines/Guidlines and to tie them 'correcty'. Doesn't really focus on things like firefighter rescue, or internal commumications/sitreps to ECO/IC.
CFBT course is great for education, needs to be expanded to entry techniques and moving into a room, moving and gas cooling.
Ventilation - I don't know exactly what the 'Tactical Ventilation' course was meant to teach, but a simple training building that can be comparmentalised would be great for all facets of Urban/Structural training. This allows people to see practically the impact of all types of ventilation, and as well as the impact of moving through a structure and closing/opening doors during fire attack. Use either a smoke machine or fuel trays.
Things that should be taught: All forms of ventilation, Mechanical, Natural, Hydraulic. All means, Horizontal/Vertical/Trench etc etc.
Salvage/Overhaul - Highlight and reinforce the number of jobs CFS go to that the water damage exceeds the fire/smoke damage. Teach smart salvage and overhaul techniques, rather than just smash the crap out of a wall to check for fire spread. There is nothing wrong with being aggressive in firefighting, but remember its 'Our fire, in THEIR house."
Working on roofs - Being mindful of signs of collapse of roofs and how to perform vertical ventilation carrectly and safely.
Forcible Entry - How to effect entry to buildings quickly, and how to use those tools on the truck to the best of their ability. There shouldn't be much that you can't open with the correct tools, we just need to get them...
As to where the courses would be based, there would be nothing wrong with basing it at Brukunga, although certain parts can be taught/reinforced at group level. Things like forcible entry simulators would be an easy purchase for regions/groups. For ventilation, I would like to see a purpose built structure instead of the "house with a shed" at Brukunga currently. This would allow real factors to influence smoke behavior etc etc. Make the building reasonably air tight, with windows and doors, internal and external. This way you can smoke it up, and still ventilate the structure when necessary.
Commercial structure or domestic? They are both structures so the basics remain the same. The only real difference would be layout/building size/fuel load/possible occupancy.
