Public Safety Agencies Partner for Training
Last updated: Public Relations Specialist |
The Downers Grove Fire and Police Departments recently completed four weeks of intense training at Midwestern University, 555 31st Street, in Downers Grove. "Thanks to the generosity of our university partners, we were able to use live fire evolutions to challenge our suppression skills in an 'as close to a real life environment' as you can get," said Downers Grove Fire Chief Jim Jackson.
The training took place over 18 days in five, three-story dormitories that are slated for demolition on the campus of Midwestern University. Approximately 500 participants from 12 other departments, including some from Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana, took advantage of this rare opportunity to train in a realistic environment. Firefighters labored through intense heat and a maze of dark smoke during a total of 91 live burn evolutions as part of the training scenarios.
Participating law enforcement agencies conducted a series of training exercises at the same location that included numerous rapid deployment scenarios, some in cooperation with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
"The police department takes training very seriously and this type of venue allows us to take full advantage to sharpen our skills in a realistic environment," said Downers Grove Police Chief Robert Porter.