LYNN — The Lynn Fire Department was able to conduct some training at a vacant building on Ford Street Monday, a day before it was set to be torn down.
A number of simulations for “real-life” firefighting scenarios were conducted inside the building throughout the day, District Fire Chief Joseph Zukas said.
Zukas said firefighters wore black-out masks to simulate being inside a smoke-filled building with zero visibility. They conducted search-and-rescue drills, with mannequins used to represent people who would need to be saved during a fire, he said.
Firefighters also practiced putting holes in the roof of the building with saws, Zukas said, explaining that this is good practice for training on different types of construction. The building at 96 Ford St. has a flat-style roof, which is often seen with multi-family homes, he said.
“It’s invaluable training in real life because these are the types of properties we’ll be going to fires in,” said Zukas. “This is the best simulation we can have. It’s real-life practice.”
Zukas said 35 firefighters took part in Monday’s training, which was conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The training was conducted in groups of three to seven, with all on-duty firefighters taking part in the drills throughout the day, he said.
The building is set to be torn down on Tuesday, said Zukas. He encouraged other property owners to reach out to the Fire Department prior to demolition so additional training could be conducted.
“I just want to thank the owner of the building,” said Zukas. “He was good enough to let us use it.”
He added: “The guys really enjoy the hands-on training. So it’s a win-win for everybody.”
