Firefighters Battle the Heat WhileTraining
By: Ashley Hinson
Updated: June 19, 2012
"They enjoy it. It's something different and a good experience for them."
The department participated in a training exercise at the vacant Woodscape apartment complex.
And Lieutenant Wilson said it's a unique experience.
"We do a lot of classroom training, videos, we do a lot of things in our training field, again it's a unique opportunity you just can't simulate a fire in an apartment complex without an apartment complex.
The simulations were complete with obstacles firefighters would face in the event of a real fire.
"We like to try to make it as realistic as possible. We've got manikins that simulate victims we've got smoke generators that make smoke. Everything with the exceptions of setting the apartments on fire we try to simulate and again make it as realistic as possible for our firefighters."
Seventeen fire stations participated throughout the day.
Cpt. Benny Baker said it's a way to learn their strengths and weaknesses.
"There were some good points and some bad points. Anytime you get an opportunity to get some training in is good where you can see where you need to improve and what you need to work on."
Because they are the trained ones,
"We can rebuild buildings but we can't replace lives. We always tell people to get out and do not go back in. That's what they pay us to do."
