Why dispatcher charging stations Femke Van Bogaert learnt to fight fires

In Circet Alumni, a colleague tells the story of his or her training at the Circet Academy, in short and detail.

Who is Femke?

• Professionally: as a dispatcher in the charging stations department, Femke is the permanent point of contact for our technicians. She creates schedules, maps out routes, solves logistical problems, and so on.
• Privately: Femke lives in Paal-Beringen with her housemate. She loves reading and nature walks.    
  
  

IN SHORT

• Training? Firefighting training
• Her take-away? “That you only have three minutes to evacuate if a fire starts.”
• Score? 11/10
• Tip for those who want to keep learning? “Get advice from your colleagues at the Circet Academy. They will help you choose the suitable course.”

IN DETAIL

Why did you follow this training?

“As a dispatcher in the charging stations department, I am present in the Beringen offices every day. When our QHSE team was looking for reinforcement for the in-house firefighting team, they came to me. I immediately joined, together with my colleague Yannick from the warehouse.”

“If a fire starts, you only have three minutes to evacuate.”

What does an in-house firefighting service do?

The firefighting service or first response team is required by law and consists of employees who voluntarily commit themselves to providing assistance in the event of an incipient fire. In practice, they ensure that the evacuation runs smoothly and carry out initial extinguishing work until the fire brigade arrives on site. The volunteers attend a one-day course to train for that.

What did you find most interesting about the training?

“The training was delivered by a firefighter. He explained the theory with great enthusiasm and also told many anecdotes. The training wasn’t boring at all, not even for a second.

Remaining calm is crucial, despite the crisis situation. Your smartphone and other belongings no longer have any value at such a time; the important thing is to get yourself to safety. By the way, did you know that you only have three minutes to evacuate if a fire starts? A fire spreads very quickly because of the many synthetic materials used in interiors.”

What did you find most challenging?

“Of course, we also learnt to put out starting fires with powder, foam and CO₂ extinguishers. We wore fire-resistant overalls and special boots for that: it was all very real. Putting out the fire seems very simple when you see it happen on TV, but nothing could be further from the truth. The heat in particular makes it very hard physically. I was really tired at the end of the day.”

“The heat makes it very hard physically. I was really tired at the end of the day.”

Who would benefit from this training most?

“We may all have to tackle a fire at some point, at work or in our home environment. In addition to instructing us in our tasks as the first response team, the trainer also shared a lot of useful tips to apply at home.

For example, you should never put out a fire in a deep fryer with water, because this will cause a flash fire. You should cover the appliance with a damp cloth. And you should also agree on a meeting point with your housemates at a safe distance from the building. This makes sure you won’t lose anyone and can immediately check that everyone is safe.”

Is there another course on your wish list?

“Not yet. But I keep an eye on the training catalogue and advise colleagues to do the same. Or just contact your colleagues at the Circet Academy. They will be happy to help you find a suitable course.

For example, a while ago I took a French course. Not because it was necessary for my job at the time; I just wanted to brush up on my skills. When I started working in dispatching for charging stations, the refresher suddenly came in very handy!”