BY JOHN DUNPHY
Staff Writer
An artist’s rendering of the future burn building. Construction has begun on a unique $2.2 million “burn building” that will be used to train firefighters from throughout Middlesex County.
The 5,000-square-foot building, scaled back by about a third from what was originally proposed, is being built at the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville.
The building will give firefighters the ability to train under potentially hundreds of different scenarios. Designed to mimic a typical storefront in downtown New Brunswick, the burn building will be the first of its kind in New Jersey, featuring two basements and allowing firefighters to learn firsthand how to descend into a chimney-like situation to fight a fire.
Also included is a simulated apartment above a simulated warehouse, as well as two storefronts.
“We tried to make the building as realistic as possible,” said Michael Gallagher, the Middlesex County fire marshal. “There’s a lot of props in there to train firefighters in a real environment.”
The props include straw and wood, which can only be burned in a “Class A” burn building. These can be used to create live fires anywhere within the structure. Unlike a burn building that is fueled by propane, meaning the fires can be shut down at any time, the new building will have entirely live fires, which means it can be anywhere in the building, not just in pre-set areas.
“Fighters can actually feel the fire,” Gallagher said.
The building itself features a fire-resistant concrete mix to withstand higher temperatures. While a common burn building can expect to have a life span of about 10 years, Jose Alejandro Paz, the project manager with the architectural firm, ETC, said the new facility should be able to last 25 to 30 years without the need for major upgrades or renovations.
“It’s a very unique structure in that we’ll have a variety of scenarios to train our firefighters,” Middlesex County Freeholder Christopher Rafano said. “The more scenarios, the better.”
The props in each room will be made of steel and have wheels allowing them to be moved anywhere.
“It depends on the props we put in there,” Paz said. “In removing props, a cleaners can become a hardware store, then a pizza parlor.”
Central Metals Inc., Camden, is constructing the steel props while Pravco, of Rahway, is constructing the facility.
“Literally hundreds of scenarios could be set up in this building to teach firefighters the best way to extinguish a fire fast and get people out safely,” said Rafano, who is chairman of the county’s Law and Public Safety Committee.
The new building joins two other fire training structures at the county academy, including one used to train firefighters in house fires and one to train in high-rise fires.
According to officials, there are currently 2,472 firefighters, paid or volunteer, in Middlesex County. Gallagher said the new building will be available to train firefighters in other counties or anywhere else for that matter. He said a possible sister academy in Puerto Rico is currently being considered.
“Every town’s fire department can benefit from this facility being built,” he said.
Construction is expected to be completed by spring, depending on the weather.