FROM THE NEWSROOM: The Lt. Dennis R. Lemery Memorial Training Center is now up on a five acre property in Rogers. It took the company that brought in the metal containers four days last week to weld the pieces together. The result: a structure that can be “a different house each time” that firefighters train, according to Dayville Fire Captain Brian Weaver. WINY toured the facility on Litchfield Ave. late last week. Dayville Fire District President Kevin Ide led the way – he says every detail of the design is meant to give local firefighters the ability to train for the situations they are most likely to encounter here in the region, including at storefronts, commercial properties and residential housing units. Walking through the facility, Ide noted the different features that have been designed into the building – a false front at the top of the building accessed by ladder, with a three-foot drop down to the roof; a rappelling tower that drops down to a balcony; another “Romeo and Juliet” style balcony that appears on homes and other structures throughout the region. Made of metal containers with two internal stairwells – one that leads up to a tower – the facility has three main floors that can mimic both residential and commercial properties. Movable dividers with small circular and triangular access holes can create a maze within the first room firefighters enter from the “breach door;” what could be described as an obstacle course in a pitch black setting that, when in use, will be smoked out. While the main body is metal, portions are made of drywall so that personnel can practice making entry between rooms in a home to get to a victim or fire source. Ide and Weaver stressed that firefighters locally train for much more than structure fires – an emphasis has been put on rappelling features so that emergency responders can practice high-angle rescue; something fire officials say will help them better prepare for rescues at places like Rosss Cliffs in Killingly. The district received final zoning variances and permit approval early last week. The fire district plans to finish up minor components of the project over the winter and expects to hold an open house in the spring. The structure cost about $400,000 – in total the facility is projected to cost $750,000. Tune in for the full report.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:43:14 +0000
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