The Syracuse Fire Department officially opened and demonstrated its new five-story state-of-the-art training tower today, which can prepare crews for multiple types of emergencies. The fire department treated the demonstration as an actual emergency at its State Fair Boulevard training facility. A mock call was dispatched over the fire department's radios:
"Engine Company 1, Truck 3. Reported high rise fire. 3117 Training Loop Boulevard. Caller states fourth floor of the building is on fire, with residents trapped on the third floor..."
Captain John DeFabio of the training division narrated the rescue operation.
“He's currently making a safety connection to a victim in the window on the 4th floor," DeFabio said. "Once the victim is securely attached to the rescuer, both of their body weights are now attached to a life rescue rope. You will see that they're now attached is together, they will both be lowered by the team on top of the roof.”
Fire Chief Michael Monds says the facility a much-needed improvement over their 80-year-old tower, which they haven’t been able to use for 15 years. He hopes this one lasts several decades, as well.
“This is made to be able to let the firefighters train in all the different disciplines, from stretching hose lines to attack the fire, to forcible entry to get doors that are locked, to get the people that are trapped to search and rescue inside the building to ventilate all the super-heated gases out of the building. As you saw, they can rappel off the top of the roof,” Monds said.
The $3 million dollar fire training tower was funded mostly by pandemic relief funds. Mayor Ben Walsh says the investment is worthwhile for the city and other agencies that can use the facility.
“We need to continue to invest to ensure that our fire department meets the needs of the people of the city of Syracuse. We're a growing city. We're a growing community, and we need to make sure that our services are growing as our community grows.”
Walsh also swore in 26 recruit firefighters who will begin a 19-week training academy. They’re also the first fire department to be trained as state emergency medical technicians.
