The Daily Herald has an article about several fire departments being able to take advantage of high-rise training at the old Sherman Hospital facility in Elgin.
A portion of the old Sherman Hospital on Elgin’s east side is enjoying a final hurrah as a firefighters’ training ground before it meets the wrecking ball in July.
All this week, more than 300 personnel from 14 fire departments and protection districts are using a rare opportunity to practice their high-rise firefighting skills in the four-story building.
Fires in high-rises are tricky because they take place while equipment could be several stories below. Because of that, it can take a longer time getting to the fire and the time elapsed could increase the size of the blaze, Elgin Assistant Fire Chief Dave Schmidt said.
One of the exercises Monday involved planning for enough equipment in the staging area, which was two stories below. Firefighters also used the second floor as a command post and searched the fourth floor for potential victims.
After securing permission from Sherman officials for the exercise, the Elgin Fire Department invited firefighters from surrounding communities to practice with them, Schmidt said.
They include fire personnel from South Elgin, the Dundees, Rutland-Dundee, Carpentersville, Hampshire, Pingree Grove, Streamwood, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates and Huntley.
The entire article can be found HERE.
thanks Chris
