East County firefighters pleased with progress on new training space

Although the East County Fire Protection District is about a year away from unveiling its new two-story training facility, the firefighters who have volunteered their time to create the space are enthusiastic about the progress they've made so far.

The project, to build a live burn training facility, began earlier this year and is moving faster then the department originally thought, chief Dwayne Kirchhoff said Monday.

It was during a department reorganization a year and a half ago when East County firefighters and board members created a list of goals for the district.

Kirchhoff said it was then that his crew expressed a need for a space to conduct live burns to enhance their skills. East County firefighters have always had to use other department's spaces to conduct live burn training.

"So, we're all making it happen. And we are not having to take away from the general fund budget," Kirchhoff said.

Each year, the department budgets an amount specifically for training. Funds left over from 2009 and part of this year's training budget have been used for materials.

"All said and done, we'll have probably close to $10,000 into this facility," Kirchhoff said.

Firefighters started to make noticeable progress on the facility at the Indian Creek station, 4000 State Route V, when they poured cement to hold the four cargo containers delivered June 5.

The steel Conex storage containers are the main component to the training space. Once they're partitioned off they'll resemble a two-story residence where firefighters can practice interior fire attack and suppression.

"The government has changed the way we can do live burns and they've gotten real strict, so these allow us to actually do the live burn right and train accordingly," Kirchhoff said.

The main training area, using three 40-foot containers, will be 960 square feet and include an interior stairwell.

"They can go in with air packs and learn how to get around with all their gear on and get through a crawl space -- anything they would see in a regular home or commercial building," said Kirchhoff.

The burn area inside the 20-foot cargo container is 160 square feet and can endure 40 to 50 live burn incidents, according to Kelly Allen, East County Fire Protection District's assistant chief.

The training station will also give firefighters the opportunity to experience high-angle rescue techniques, undergo ladder training and learn how to rappel down the side of buildings.

"A lot of our firefighters need the basic training of going in to perform a search pattern, locating the fire, and with thermal imaging equipment, locate a victim if there is one," Allen said. "It's definitely going to be a multipurpose facility."

When the training space is completed, the East County fire crew will also be able to host training for other Cape Girardeau County departments. The Jackson, Fruitland and Cape Girardeau fire departments have all hosted East County for past live burn sessions.

"Probably the most important part of this is, it gives us an opportunity to work with our mutual aid departments. We've built a very good relationship. We're out here to help each other," Kirchhoff said.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

4000 State Route V, Cape Girardeau, MO