Thursday, July 24, 2014
Lawrenceburg Fire Department Using House Set For Demolition For Training Exercises
If you see smoke in the area of the former Murray Test Base on Highway 43 North in Lawrenceburg in coming weeks, be forewarned that a house on the property is being used for live firefighter training drills.
Lawrenceburg Fire Department Chief Jay Moore said that the department conducted their first training exercise at the location on Wednesday night.
Firefighters were undergoing specialized training for a situation in which a firefighter becomes trapped inside a structure. Moore said they practiced extrication techniques, including breaking through interior walls.
“When firefighter goes down, on the average it takes twelve officers to get him out,” Moore explained. “Our focus goes from saving the structure to getting our guy out.”
Moore said that gaining approval to use the structure for training was quite an involved process. The house is situated in a field with no other structures nearby.
It had to be inspected through the Environmental Protection Agency. Alterations to the structure, such as removal and boarding up of windows, had to be completed in order to meet standard guidelines.
Still, Moore said it was worth the effort. “This allows us to do some very good training we don’t get to do a whole lot in our area.”
Several additional training sessions are scheduled through August 12. During the final training drill the structure will be allowed to burn as part of the demolition process.
Moore said that throughout all of the training exercises firefighters will remain on-site to ensure the safety of all surrounding citizens and their property.
Training drills are planned for:
July 28 – 2:00 until 10:00 p.m.
July 30 – 2:00 until 10:00 p.m.
August 4 – 6:00 until 10:00 p.m.
August 11 – 6:00 until 10:00 p.m.
August 12 – 6:00 until 10:00 p.m.
