Great Falls Fire/Rescue on Thursday lit up a brick residential structure near the Missouri River during its first live-training event in more than a decade.
“There’s nothing to replace active fire training,” training officer Shane Klippenes said.
Fire crews, including a handful with less than 18 months of training, got a more hands-on type of training than usually done in the city. Most of the time, they’re extinguishing burning wood pallets at a training facility.
“It’s rare to find one of these in city limits to train with without causing city hazards,” Klippenes said. With newer firefighters working training simulations like this one, “When Mrs. Smith’s house is on fire it’s not their first time.”