FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Iona McGregor District is using an empty building on the Shell Point Retirement Community campus as a new training facility for a more unique learning experience for local firefighter crews.
The fire crews are training in the former Larsen Pavilion skilled nursing center, which was replaced with the new Larsen Health Center earlier this year.
The first week focused on multi-agency firefighter operations in a high-rise building.
The scenario for today was on the fourth floor. Crews had to extend fire hose lines from the building suppression system located in the stairwell to stay more protected in a fire attack. During this training, the building was completely smoked out.
With a traditional residential structure fire, crews typically hook up the fire hose to the engines but when there is a case of a high-rise fire, crews will use the building’s standpipe systems to connect the hose lines.
This training helps with allowing crews from other agencies to work in a setting that isn’t familiar and crews have the opportunity to practice their fire attack communication skills.
