Union County Firefighters Complete Annual School Walkthrough

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County Fire Department firefighters completed their annual walkthrough of the county’s main school buildings and campus last week to familiarize each shift with the facilities and emergency systems.

The department said the training helps crews respond more effectively in an emergency. Firefighters were escorted through the buildings by Union County School staff and Union County School Police.

Crews reviewed preferred campus entry points that would avoid interfering with evacuating students, along with the best locations to position apparatus and enter the buildings. Inside, they were shown the locations of electricity shutoffs, LP gas shutoffs, sprinkler systems and alarm systems.

Officials noted that knowing the shutoff locations for electricity, gas and domestic water is important during a fire. Electrical systems may need to be de-energized before water is applied, and shutting off LP gas lines removes the fuel source in buildings that use the fuel.

Particular attention was given to the alarm panels and fire sprinkler systems. Firefighters reviewed the location and operation of each alarm panel, which can indicate the likely location and size of a fire. They also reviewed how the sprinkler systems work, how to determine whether a sprinkler head has activated, how to support an activated system with a fire engine, and how to shut off water to a specific head after a fire is extinguished to limit water damage. Only activated sprinkler heads discharge water, the department noted.

Union County Fire Department thanked the Union County School Board, the superintendent, assistant superintendents, faculty, staff, Chief Scott Deyton and facilities staff for their assistance with the walkthrough.