Live Fire Training Coming Up For Geneva Fire Department

GENEVA, IL — Geneva residents who live on Peck Road shouldn't be surprised if they see fire on a neighboring property between June 10 and June 12. The city purchased the house and property at 64 Peck Road as a place where firefighters can conduct live fire training.

When the city purchased the property, they saw the wood frame, single-family house as a valuable training opportunity, according to a news release. Ahead of training, which will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day that weekend, the house is being prepped and rendered safe.

The training will consist of 15 to 20 fire evolutions as a way for firefighters to hone their interior and exterior firefighting skills, which include interior attack, vertical and horizontal ventilation, and civilian and firefighter rescue.

On the final day of training, firefighters will be practicing defensive techniques that will require the house to be burned to the ground "within two hours in the mid to late afternoon." During this time, officials said the smoke and flames generated will be similar to a structure fire.

"Live training exercises, such as this, are extraordinarily important for Geneva firefighters to develop and maintain their skill sets," officials said in a news release.

Neighboring property owners will be notified during the week of June 6, but officials said they should expect "minimal disruption to their normal activities" because for the majority of the training period, "all fire vehicles and equipment will be located on the site, and minimal smoke will be generated."

Local residents with questions can contact Fire Chief Mike Antenore at 630-232-2530.