Cape firefighters fresh out of the academy simulated various real-life scenarios Monday in a real-life structure donated to the CCFD by Gulf Coast Village. CJ HADDAD

Cape Coral Fire Department trainees got some hands-on experience in the field Tuesday thanks to a donated structure.

Firefighters fresh out of the academy spent the day simulating various real-life scenarios in a real-life structure. Gulf Coast Village donated a duplex marked for demolition thanks to Hurricane Ian damage located at 152 S.E. 13th St. for new CCFD firefighters to use during orientation. Officials said this allows them to hone their skills throughout the month as they prepare to go on shift.

These firefighters practice radio operations/dispatch, fire attack, search and rescue, water supply, ventilation and rapid intervention. The Rapid Intervention Team is a dedicated team of firefighters ready to rescue other firefighters who become trapped in a structure or hazard.

“We basically just run them through some of the skills (they need) and scenarios they may be faced with,” said CCFD Training Lt. Jordan Lowther, who was on-site Tuesday. “It worked out good with the duplex. It gives us a more realistic trial run. Today, they’re going through the basic stuff like forceable entry, search, (etc.).”

Seasoned firefighters accompany the trainees to guide them and ensure proper protocols are being implemented.

“I think they’re doing very well,” Lowther said of his trainees. “A lot of them have just come out of fire school, so they haven’t been faced with this actual scenario. It’s good for us to run them through it and let them see what it’s going to be like, and actually have an online guy guiding them. I think it went well.”

Lowther said when structures are donated, they’re used for as long as possible with different crews rotating to hone specific crafts.

“Every crew will try to get an hour or two with the donated building,” Lowther said. “Other than that, we’re out looking at other buildings in the area in our district, (and) running through our regular (training) at the station.

“When we get something donated. We spend all of our time here. If we have a donated structure, there’s going to be crews here doing it every single day until we don’t have it any more.”

Lowther said having a tangible, more realistic space to train is an invaluable resource.

“We’re getting to see real doors, real rooms. We’re getting to pull the hose through pinch-points and all that,” he said. “It’s a lot more realistic when we have something to actually go to. It’s very beneficial.”

Lowther said firefighters will work the same scenarios over and over until things are polished. Often times the training personnel will throw a curveball at them, or use their own experience in the field to help guide new firefighters.

“Throughout the day, we’ll just throw little things in there we may come across, or something that we may have experienced, just to try to throw them off the routine and get them to think outside the box,” Lowther said.

Regional Vice President of Volunteers of America National Services Ann Walsh said, “Gulf Coast Village made the determination after Hurricane Ian, because of the damage, that these buildings would need to come down. We thought we would reach out to the Cape Coral Fire Department and offer these two structures (another location was provided for the entire month of May) to give them an opportunity to train in real housing structures here in Cape Coral.”

In a statement, CCFD Chief Ryan Lamb said, “Until we have a fire training facility in Cape Coral, our training capabilities are enhanced by the generosity of community partners who donate structures, like Gulf Coast Village. This provides firefighters the opportunity to be able to practice these skills, which are usually done with props, in a realistic setting.”

Cape firefighters fresh out of the academy simulated various real-life scenarios Monday in a real-life structure donated to the CCFD by Gulf Coast Village.

CJ HADDAD