Win-win scenario at Boise State: Firefighters stay sharp, BSU says goodbye to outdated facility
With the Broncos in Hawaii Saturday, the only orange on campus - a bright, fiery glow burning inside this old, brick building.
"No one wants a firefighter's first time when he sees live fire to be when he shows up at their house for a real emergency," Capt. Mike Walker with the Boise Fire Department said.
The setting for this non-emergency training exercise was Lincoln Hall - a small, outdated dorm turned office building that's stood at BSU for years.
But this weekend, Lincoln Hall will literally go down in flames, leaving behind in its wake one last teaching moment for the pros on the front lines who can never be too prepared for the every day challenges and unknowns that await.
"It would be too expensive for us to build structures, insulate structures and then burn those down," BFD battalion chief J.D. Ellis said. "So, by having an older building we can play around with, and do different things in, it's just an invaluable experience."
"This [training exercise] gives our people the opportunity to let people practice in the conditions that they'll face when they have to rescue someone's family and put out a real house fire," Capt. Walker said.
Both firemen and BSU staff members say this scenario's a win-win because the University expressed interest in leveling the building and the fire training lowers the cost of demolition.
Firefighters will complete their two-day training course Sunday afternoon when they demolish Lincoln Hall.









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