Fire fighting training device and method

Apparatus that imitates the appearance of an engine or machine room and simulates oil bilge and oil spray fires, and Class A fires, for firefighting training, comprising:

• a metal housing having an elevated floor, a portion of said floor being a metal grate similar in appearance to conventional metal flooring in an engine room, wherein said housing includes wall members that enclose said metal grate, and the area immediately above said grate, on three sides;
• plumbing positioned above said grate having at least one manually operable switch means for simulating the appearance and operation of a manual oil line valve, and one flange means downstream in said plumbing from said switch means, for simulating a union in said plumbing and spreading flame directed thereon;
• first burner means mounted beneath said elevated floor having at least one flame providing nozzle extending beneath said grate portion for controllably producing fire through said grate;
• second burner means mounted through a said wall member having a flame providing nozzle directed onto said flange means for controllably producing fire that appears from a position outside said enclosure to emanate from said simulated union;
• sensor means mounted beneath said grate, having a probe sensor and a pan member for collecting fire extinguishment agent deposited into said pan and directing said agent onto said probe, wherein said sensor changes electrical states in response to the presence of a preselected said agent;
• and
• valving means in the fuel supply to said first and said second burner means that is responsive to said sensor for controlling the supply of fuel to said first burner means, and that is responsive to said valve simulating switch for controlling the supply of fuel to said second burner means.