Columbia Township will train today (Mon 11/20) at a soon to be demolished structure at Clark Lake. This is a follow up to a similar session that took place on Tuesday evening, November 14, when the Columbia Township Fire Department was joined by departments from Liberty and Addison in 8800 area of North Shore Drive. The location is depicted by this Google map.
Fire Chief Cota expects the training activity to last most of today.
Chief Scott Cota
For training purposes, the fire department uses a fog machine to replicate the smoke-filled experience, but with a significant difference. The machine produces fog that is white and non-toxic. The same can’t be said of smoke from an actual fire which is black or brown and can be accompanied by extreme heat, all of which can be deadly. In training, firefighters practice what’s required in emergency situations such as laying hose, radio communications, room searches, and ventilation techniques. In this video recorded on Tuesday, Chief Cota describes what firefighters must deal with when entering a burning building. He also offers life-saving tips for residents.
Three structures will make way for new construction at the site. This website’s Spirit Cam will remain focused on the area, as the process moves forward. You can watch the Spirit Cam and the DamCam from the main page of this website. Both operate 24/7 with views of Clark Lake, thanks to contributions from Mike McKay (paid for the cameras), the Beach Bar (hosts the DamCam), and Columbia Township and Police (hosts the Spirit Cam).
