Bainbridge Public Safety Officers participated in a Live Fire Training on Wednesday morning at a property located on Burgess Street.

The structure was donated by the property owner for training use. BPS Engineer Michael Jenkins and Cadets Kyle Wilford, Samuel Whitley, Marcus White, Michael Bush, and Brandon Deen took part in the training which was led by Fire Chief Doyle Welch, Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Deen, Officer/Engineer Nick Godwin, and Firefighter Van Eakin.

They also had the opportunity to try out their brand new Thermal Camera which uses infrared radiation as visible light to see areas of heat through smoke, darkness, or heat-permeable barriers.

On Thursday morning, another Live Fire Training took place at a structure located on Thomas Street. BPS Engineer Michael Jenkins, Officer LaDaric Jones, and Cadets Kyle Wilford, Samuel Whitley, Marcus White, Michael Bush, and Brandon Deen took part in the training which was led by Fire Chief Doyle Welch, Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Deen, Officer/Engineer Nick Godwin, and Firefighters Colby Swicord and Van Eakin.

Firefighters must be able to think critically and clearly, and solve problems under extreme stress. This can be especially difficult in an actual fire, so training instructors conduct live fire training drills. They purposely set buildings on fire to give firefighters opportunities to develop these skills. The overall goal of training is to instill good habits through repeated exposure. Live fire training is conducted in burn buildings, which are structures, built or acquired, to be intentionally burned for firefighter training. Live fire training is also a great way to clear condemned properties and improve blighted areas.

Anyone who would like to consider donating a structure that is in disrepair to the Public Safety Department for training purposes can contact Fire Chief Doyle Welch at 229-248-2038.