3-16-17 waupun fire department to host open house at new fire training center

The Waupun Fire Department will unveil its 2,800-square-foot Public Safety Training Tower during an Open House on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 903 N. Madison St., Waupun, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m.    “When fire strikes, seconds matter,” explained Fire Chief BJ DeMaa. “We want our firefighters – who are composed of volunteer community members – to have the training that allows them to see the smoke, feel the heat and be challenged with the fire dynamics they’ll experience when called. The new training tower provides us that opportunity and more.”   The city-funded facility went from conception to completion in 10 months and allows fire fighters to participate in live-fire training, practicing situational-awareness and split-second, decision-making. The Public Safety Training Tower will also be used by the Waupun Police Department for active shooter, K-9 and additional training simulations.    Made of repurposed shipping containers, Waupun’s Public Safety Training Tower stands 36’ tall, 40’ long and 24’ wide and the interior features props firefighters would encounter during a live fire: walls, furniture and appliances—as well as training areas to replicate confined spaces, entanglement boxes, wall breaches, W-lifts and roof simulation.  “To our knowledge, Waupun’s Public Safety Training Tower is one of only five live-fire training towers spanning between the 43 fire departments of Dodge and Fond du Lac County,” DeMaa added. “Training is the most important aspect of a firefighter’s job. In a dangerous situation, someone can only perform to the level they are trained to, not higher. This tower increases our training capabilities for our team of volunteer firefighters and, by doing so, allows the Fire Department to better support the community.”  Families, business owners and community members are encouraged to attend the open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Waupun Fire Department will also be available during the open house to answer questions for those interested in serving as a paid, on-call firefighter.