In advance of demolishing two pre-existing abandoned structures on a newly acquired piece of property in the Las Vegas area, American West Development’s Director of Construction, Tyler Tebbs, offered the structures to the Clark County Fire Department for use in live training drills.
The Clark County Fire Department accepted the offer, and used two of the abandoned homes in ten days of “live fire” training exercises. While most live fire training happens in a “burn building” at a fire academy, condemned or abandoned structures are often used to simulate rapidly changing fire conditions more accurately.
Over the course of the 10-day exercise, firefighters practiced cutting vent holes in roofs, breaching iron guard bars, and other techniques. The department blacked out the home’s windows and used a smoke machine to simulate fire conditions during the exercise.
“Doug Kostiv, who is our quality assurance manager, and I had stopped by while they were practicing the smoke drill,” says Tebbs. “When they were finished, the Captain asked us if we wanted to go through the ‘smoked out’ section of the house. We said sure. And let me tell you, we couldn’t see one foot in front of us! I definitely have a renewed respect for firefighters.”
After the smoke drill was complete, members of the department honored Tebbs and the American West Development team with a plaque for “their support, dedication and community involvement.”
