St. Charles Fire hosts three-day coordinated training with nearby fire departments
The St. Chares Fire Department hosted a multi-department training in conjunction with the Illinois Fire Service Institute's Cornerstone Training Program on June 13-15.
St. Charles firefighters were joined by members of the Geneva, Batavia and Elburn fire departments for the training, which took place at the former PNC Bank building, 2600 E. Main St. in St. Charles.
The training was designed to test the skills and interoperability of the local fire departments to respond jointly to a fire call.
The St. Charles Fire Department and fire departments from surrounding communities often work together to assist with local fire service calls.
Trainings like these are very beneficial for the firefighters to build relationships and to familiarize themselves in working together as team.
Scenarios in simulated fire conditions required a response with fire trucks, fire engines, and command staff, and included: victim search and rescue, hose lead outs, ventilation, and fire extinguishment.
"It was a rare opportunity to have such a large building to utilize for fire training," said Jeremy Mauthe, St. Charles Fire Department Battalion Chief of Training. "It had great potential for a wide variety of scenarios including lost/trapped firefighters, extensive search and rescue options, and fires in areas requiring a long stretch of hose lines for fire extinguishment.
"We appreciate Eric Dams, from Troutman/Dams Commercial Real Estate, for working with us and allowing us to use the building for training prior to their scheduled demolition," Mauthe said.
"We also thank IFSI for developing a solid three days of training for us," Mauthe said. "Multiple IFSI instructors from various fire departments offered their insights. That experience was an excellent addition to the training."
The Illinois Fire Service Institute Cornerstone Training Program supports fundamental and essential skills training for fire departments across the state.
The training is supported through the Office of the State Fire Marshall and is delivered at no cost to local fire departments.
The St. Charles Fire Department provides fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical, emergency management, fire inspection and public education services to the St. Charles community. The fire department earned a Class 1 PPC ISO rating and is fully accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and the Center for Public Safety Excellence Inc. It serves the 33,000 residents and nearly 2,000 businesses from three stations within the city.