Fire chiefs from around Northeast Missouri converged on Hannibal Tuesday afternoon to inspect the new mobile live fire training unit.
“We’re very excited the new trailer finally arrived today,” said Tim Carter, Hannibal fire chief.
After giving the training device a once over, local chiefs gave it glowing reviews.
“I think it’s great,” said Gary Crane, Palmyra fire chief. “I think it’s one of the best assets to the region that you could come across.”
“It’s going to be a big asset as far as training for area departments, not only in our area but the whole region,” said Mike Dobson of the Hannibal Rural Fire Protection District.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Gary McElroy of the Monroe City Fire Protection District. “I’m very, very glad to see it.”
McElroy cited the efforts of Carter to secure the new training tool.
“I have to give Tim Carter the Hannibal fire chief a pat on the back for working very hard with all the rest of us to get this done,” he said.
While the new training trailer arrived in Hannibal, Carter noted that it is a regional asset.
“Several of the departments in the region have contributed toward the cost share of this trailer and they’re real excited about getting it into operation,” he said.
The first steps toward putting the live fire trainer to use will begin next week.
“We’re going to be even more excited next week when we have the manufacturer in town to go over the operation of the trailer. We’ll have the area fire departments’ instructors coming in to go over that training with us,” said Carter. “We hope to have this thing fully up and running full-speed by the first of the year. We’re going to have some training evolutions before then.”
What facet of the new trailer will be the most beneficial?
“The wheels,” said Crane with a smile. “What this is going to do is keep all our firemen at home and train right here. They won’t have to go across the state to Columbia and places like that. It’s right here; it’s close. Cost-wise it will be a lot cheaper than sending our guys because you can only send two or three at a time to leave the area and go to school. Now you can do the whole bunch right here and not have to leave home.”
McElroy saw a number of potential benefits.
“Not only doing the live fire training but for ladder work, search-and-rescue techniques it’s just a wonderful thing to have,” he said.
Carter hopes his firefighters will be able to go through the new trainer at least twice a year.
“Our schedule is going to dictate what we can do, but that’s the plus of having this type of training unit. We can schedule the training in the trailer to fit our schedule. That’s going to be a real benefit,” he said.
The cost of the new live fire trainer is $327,500. Of that amount, $255,000 will be funded through an “Assistance to Firefighters Regional Grant.” The HFD budgeted $65,000 for the purchase of the trainer, although that full amount will likely not be necessary thanks to donations from area fire departments and businesses.
“The community ought to be really proud for the hard work they put in to get this trailer,” said Crane.
