Lee’s Summit, Mo., Fire Dept. Opens Live-Burn Training Facility

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(TNS) — Although structure fires are rare in Lee’s Summit, they can cause significant damage — and pose a danger to both firefighters and citizens. To help local firefighters better prepare for house and other structure fires, the Lee’s Summit Fire Department recently unveiled its new live burn training facility, located at the department’s Station 7 at 2150 SW Scherer Road.

“This facility is essential for the development and training of our members,” said Wes Blanscet, Lee’s Summit Fire Department assistant fire chief. “This is the best way we can train our firefighters to operate safely while simulating as close as possible to the conditions we will find in a structure fire.”

The new training facility, which opened on Oct. 10, was funded by the city of Lee’s Summit’s half-percent public safety sales tax initiative earmarked for services, equipment, compensation and training for both the Lee’s Summit Police and Fire departments. The ballot issue was approved by voters in April 2022.

“The better trained our firefighters are, the more efficient they are on scene,” Blanscet said. “This translates into better service and more protection for our citizens.”

The unique-looking training structure includes two stories with three rooms designated for live burns — two on the first floor and one on the second, he said. Each of the rooms features tiles on the walls that are designed to keep both fire and heat inside the room.

“This is so fire will not spread anywhere else in the structure,” Blanscet said. “Our building is a Class A burn building, which means the only products that can be burned are regular wood products. We also have fire props on the exterior that are propane gas fed.”

The fire props also used in training include items such as a small airplane, a car, dumpster and a barbecue grill.

During live burn training sessions, a bin is loaded with pallets and straw and then set on fire. Once the room reaches approximately 400 degrees, crews enter the building for hands-on training. An instructor oversees the sessions and also makes sure the fire stays at the correct temperature for each crew’s lesson in the burn facility.

“The purpose of the training is to observe the fire and learn about fire behavior and fire dynamics,” the assistant fire chief added. “We get into the fire room and observe how the fire reacts as it heats and we spray water in the room, not onto the fire, and observe how the fire reacts. So, each iteration the fire is not extinguished. We have an instructor that makes sure the fire stays at the right temperature for the next iteration.”

In addition to fires, the new structure is also used for search and rescue training, he said.

Enthusiasm among the Lee’s Summit firefighters has been favorable with the first training taking place just one day after the Oct. 10 ribbon cutting, known as a Hose Uncoupling Ceremony among fire departments.

“The reaction from our firefighters has been overwhelmingly positive,” Blanscet said.

“They have been so excited to get this training opportunity right in their backyard. I have also heard from retirees about how unbelievable it is that we have this exceptional facility.”