ERIE, Colo. --
There's a buzz in Colorado's firefighting community. Training is now safer for firefighters and the environment.
"We are proud to open the newest training facility in Colorado," said Wendy Forbes of North Metro Fire Rescue District. The 14-acre facility consists of various buildings for classroom and hands-on fire training.
It opened a few months ago, just a few years after citizens of the North Metro Fire Rescue District passed a bond issue that dedicated close to $19 million to the training center.
"The facility in many ways is a win-win for firefighter safety issues as well as for our surrounding neighbors in the community because of the environmentally friendly features built in to the site," said Forbes.
Traditionally, firefighters practice their skills by burning products like wood, hay and real structures.
"Unfortunately there are a lot of toxic ramifications from burns like this and a lot of pollution does occur. It is a byproduct of training," said Forbes.
The new North Metro Fire Rescue District training facility is very different.
"We have replaced those traditional burn products with computer generated props that are fueled with propane," said Forbes. "Now you're not seeing that nasty thick dark smoke releasing toxins into the air. All you see is steam which naturally dissipates," said Forbes.
The clean-burn props enable the fire department to practice a burn whenever necessary. They are no longer required to follow area burning restrictions.
Just last year, North Metro Fire Rescue District was only permitted to burn one day. Fire officials say the new facility brings greater freedom and safety.
"There is definitely a benefit to giving more exposure and more training. When you are able to practice more often, you would hope that you get better, faster and more efficient every time you train,"said Forbes.
Bill Miller has been a lieutenant of North metro Fire Rescue District's Engine 61 for more than 20 years.
He believes the propane props are realistic and provide welcomed safety.
"I remember years ago we were lucky to find an old farm house and then we'd train and train. It was very dangerous. You don't have to go far to find case studies where firefighters died in training. That won't happen out here," said Miller after a detailed demonstration of some of the facilities props.
He and fellow firefighter, Dan Frey, were also quick to point out the added safety feature in each burn situation room, a bright red button.
"This button right here is our emergency stop button. It shuts off gas, sucks smoke out and clears out the room as quickly as possible," said Frey.
This facility takes conservation one step further. A large pond sits in between buildings and up to 60 percent of the water used during training is reclaimed and used again.
"Everything is built on a slope and anytime we do a training that requires the use of water, it naturally drains back into the water retention pond," said Forbes.
For more information about this fire training facility, visit North Metro Fire Rescue District.
