If you’ve noticed a lot of fire engines around 730 E. Vine., there’s a good reason.
The soon-to-be demolished building has been donated by Springfield Clinic for Springfield Fire Department training.
In shifts, all Springfield firefighters will run drills for training at the location.
“Lack of venues is the key,” said Battalion Chief Mark Ballinger. “We do training such at this, but we simulate a lot of stuff. Here, we’re actually putting smoke in the building, we’re actually putting water in the building, we actually have the narrow hallways to go down, and we actually have the stairwells to navigate with the hoses.”
The training is so comprehensive as to involve everything but actually setting the place on fire.
Springfield’s Fire Department is “Class One,” a rare distinction. Real-structure training such as that at 730 E. Vine thanks to Springfield Clinic, helps keep Springfield Firefighters at the top of their game.