URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) – The Urbana Fire Department is enhancing its training this week thanks to a unique donation from Good Friends Animal Hospital. the veterinary clinic, preparing for an expansion, offered a recently acquired neighboring house for realistic fire training exercises before demolition.The donation allows firefighters to practice critical skills in a real-world surroundings, somthing department officials say is invaluable. “Being in a house where we have some furniture and seeing how we operate can be really beneficial for us,” said department engineer Stephan Birt. “Even if we’re just simulating it with no smoke, getting the reps in and that mental preparedness is going to help us a lot come gametime.”
From Wednesday through Friday, Urbana firefighters will rotate through three drills: breaking down a secured door, practicing interior water application, and performing a second-story rescue using a dummy.
Veterinarian Maggie Goeckner explained the clinic’s willingness to help. “They said, ‘You know what, we could use that training,'” and we said, “Go ahead and spray it with a hose and knock out the windows and do whatever you guys need.”
The department actively seeks opportunities for realistic training, as actual fire events are infrequent. “We’re not getting fires everyday, not even every week,” Birt stated. “So, the more we train as real as we can we’ll be prepared and be ready.” The Urbana Fire Department welcomes offers of vacant properties for similar training purposes.
