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Columbus Fire and Rescue is hosting a live burn exercise on May 7 at 8 a.m. in the Columbus Fire district. It will be in partnership with Isothermal Community College, and surrounding departments in our county as well as Rutherford County. The single-family dwelling that will be used has undergone several inspections in accordance with the state of North Carolina guidelines including an asbestos inspection. 

 

In conjunction with the preparation of this training, 1-800-BOARDUP donated sheets of plywood to board up the windows for this training exercise. 

 

Trent Carswell, with Absolute Property Management, as well as Tractor Supply in Columbus have donated multiple pallets for Columbus Fire and Rescue to use to make this training possible. They would like to thank all of the businesses for their time and donations to help them run a successful training exercise for the department and others to learn through. 

 

Saturday’s training exercise will be a controlled environment where both  new volunteers and  veteran firefighters will be able to learn new skills and hone their skills to better serve and protect the citizens of Polk County. Examples of the skills that  firefighters will have the opportunity to learn include: advancing the hose line to the structure, ventilation of the home, and search and rescue for any victims that could still be trapped inside the structure. 

 

If anyone in the Columbus Fire District has any property that will be demolished by the property owner, that would be willing to allow Columbus Fire and Rescue to use for training exercises, please contact Station One at (828) 894-3667 or email columbusfireandrescue@gmail.com

 

Submitted by Lt. Will Craine