MONROE - A large, bright red shiny piece of emergency training equipment took its prominent place at the Monroe Emergency Response Interagency Training (MERIT) Center Tuesday.
A live burn and operations tower was assembled by Advance Fire Training System from Lockport, Ill., at the MERIT Center in the North Industrial Park.
In June, the company began fabricating the sections at its factory. Crews were on site Monday prepping the parts, and a crane arrived Tuesday morning to begin assembling the large container-like sections.
The burn tower is a major piece of emergency training equipment that will provide realistic hands-on training involving fire attack, advance search and rescue, confined space, technical rescue, EMS packaging and transport, and law enforcement training opportunities.
"We'll have about 30 days to learn how to use it," said Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch. "Our first training (with it) will be around the end of October."
All 54 members of the Monroe Fire Department will take part in the training.
The structure will provide more than a smoky environment for training.
"Oh, no," said Rausch, "There'll be fire in there."
The tower costs about $155,850. The MERIT Center, including the burn tower, is funded entirely by donations. Donations so far have totaled over $244,000.
Rausch and Monroe Fire Department Training Officer Josse Allen were on sight during the construction.
A live burn and operations tower was assembled by Advance Fire Training System from Lockport, Ill., at the MERIT Center in the North Industrial Park.
In June, the company began fabricating the sections at its factory. Crews were on site Monday prepping the parts, and a crane arrived Tuesday morning to begin assembling the large container-like sections.
The burn tower is a major piece of emergency training equipment that will provide realistic hands-on training involving fire attack, advance search and rescue, confined space, technical rescue, EMS packaging and transport, and law enforcement training opportunities.
"We'll have about 30 days to learn how to use it," said Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch. "Our first training (with it) will be around the end of October."
All 54 members of the Monroe Fire Department will take part in the training.
The structure will provide more than a smoky environment for training.
"Oh, no," said Rausch, "There'll be fire in there."
The tower costs about $155,850. The MERIT Center, including the burn tower, is funded entirely by donations. Donations so far have totaled over $244,000.
Rausch and Monroe Fire Department Training Officer Josse Allen were on sight during the construction.