Fire departments train at vacant house

Richfield Fire Chief George Seifert said the department takes advantage of every opportunity to train firefighters to fight house fires. It is critical for firefighters to experience realistic fire conditions, he said.

When the village purchased the property at 3872 Broadview Rd., officials determined that the 1,000-square-foot house, built in 1951, and attached garage should be razed. The fire department asked to use the house for firefighting training.

After a fire was set in the back of the house, firefighters from six departments took turns training inside the building and outside with water supplies and hoses. Photo by S. Serdinak.

Seifert said five surrounding fire departments were invited to participate, allowing them to practice coordinating water usage and other logistics when multiple departments respond to a fire.

Seifert said firefighters started fires in four rooms and simulated a kitchen fire, where he said most house fires start. “These opportunities are priceless for training. We practice all aspects of a real working house fire,” he said.

The EPA required the removal of the shingles, windows and siding before the building could be used for training.

Despite five fires started in the building to provide training opportunities for the fire crews, the building still stood. Richfield Village will raze the existing walls and roof at a later time.

Seifert added that few buildings become available for firefighters to practice on. The Richfield department shared the training opportunity with departments from Hinckley, Bath, Granger, Valley and Fairlawn. He said training in an actual structure provides hands-on experience for situations firefighters encounter when responding to house fires.

The exercises provide tactical training and help build teamwork and camaraderie, Seifert said.

Richfield Village will knock down the walls that remain standing.

Photo caption: Crews practiced dealing with an intense blanket of smoke. Photo submitted.