Real smoke. Real fire. Real training. Raleigh Fire Department firefighters now have an enhanced space to practice live fires. A two-story structure at the Keeter Training Center features several rooms, simulating a residential environment.
Enhanced Training Space
In 2009, Raleigh Fire used a grant to acquire a mobile container training system. The system significantly enhanced the department’s live fire training. Since then, the space has offered countless hours of invaluable training for all of Raleigh Fire Department’s firefighters.
As the structure aged, RFD’s Professional Development staff brainstormed ways to prolong its use. They came up with a plan to rejuvenate it and to augment the live fire training capabilities at Keeter. Improvements included adding an upper floor to the structure and creating entry points for crews to practice forced entry on locked doors. The structure now also has a breezeway accessible through a garden gate-style entrance. Numerous windows enable ladder companies to deploy several ladders effectively.
Live-fire training prepares firefighters to stay focused and respond with calm, efficient actions even under intense pressure, says Assistant Chief Brian Sherrill.
“This renovation has significantly expanded our on-site training capabilities,” he said. “Now better than ever, we are able to equip our firefighters with essential skills for real-world scenarios.”
The on-site fire training center was originally acquired in 2009.