Local Firefighters Practice Skills in Live Burn

As part of the Cook County Emergency Services Conference on Saturday, April 28 a live burn exercise was held at the site of the former Tomteboda Motel in Grand Marais.

Four motel units, slated for demolition were used by local fire departments to practice firefighting skills. Fires were set inside the units and firefighters from several departments entered and extinguished the fires, earning valuable interior experience.

Firefighters also practiced use of fire hoses and ventilation skills. This video shows firefighters using a pike pole to check for fire in the buildings soffits and roof edges. At sign of fire, water is applied.

The Emergency Services Conference included a variety of training for local and regional emergency services personnel, such as a session on response to an aircraft mishap by the 148th Fighter Wing; a session on human trafficking in the northland by Fond du Lac Tribal Police; a cold water rescue exercise and more.

For more information about the conference, or to learn how you could help our local emergency services, call Cook County Emergency Management at 218-387-3059.