For the first time since the training facility was built in Eureka, firefighters with the Eureka Fire Department (EFD) and Greenwood County Fire divisions gathered for live fire training on Sunday, Oct. 12.
EFD Chief Luke Westerman stated, “The new training facility provides a controlled and much safer environment to hold live fire trainings. It gives our firefighters training opportunities that mimic heat and smoke you find in actual structure fires, while being closely monitored by certified instructors.”
A total of 20 firefighters participated in the training, which included fire attack, hose advancement, and fire behavior, at the facility just south of Eureka at the city mixing grounds.
“It was really beneficial hands-on training. The live fire aspect takes it to another level,” stated Greenwood County Fire Chief Glen Collinge.
The training facility will be used during biweekly trainings for non-live fire drills, as well as several live fire trainings per year, as certified instructors are available. With the local training facility, local fire departments can now hold regional trainings and invite surrounding counties/cities to participate.
Certified live fire instructor Zach Lindsey and firefighter Zach Floyd assisted with the training.
