RCFD to Conduct Drills, Training in Donated Structures

Drills, training to be conducted throughout September

Above: In this October 2018 photo, Rapid City Firefighters conduct drills on West Street near Downtown Rapid City. The building was slated for demolition and was donated to the RCFD to use for training purposes.

Rapid City, S.D. - Beginning at 9:00 am on Wednesday September 11, motorists in the area of East Boulevard and East Kansas City Street will see a heavy Rapid City Fire Department presence as crews will be conducting drills and training evolution's. The evolution's are set to last for the entire month of September and will be conducted in seven separate structures that are slated for demolition sometime this fall.

Firefighters will conduct a number of training evolution's and drills related to fire attack, structural search and rescue, forcible entry, ventilation and firefighter survival. On-duty crews will participate in scheduled drills on September 11, 12 and 13. On-duty crews will also participate in training and drills as their schedule and calls for service allow throughout the remainder of the month. Rapid City Fire Department Recruit Academy 2019-1 will train in the structures late in the month.

Firefighters will utilize a number of different tools and a variety of equipment during the drills and training evolution's. Firefighters will likely be seen wearing full personal protective equipment, including breathing apparatus. A smoke machine will be used to create realistic low-visibility conditions. Live fire will not be used during the drills and training evolution's. Those living nearby or traveling in the area should not be alarmed.

The Rapid City Fire Department wishes to extend its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Hani Shafai and Dream Design International, Inc. for providing our organization with the opportunity to utilize the structures for training purposes. Currently, the Rapid City Fire Department lacks a designated training facility. The generosity extended by Mr. Shafai will help Rapid City Firefighters operate safely and more efficiently and will help us in our mission to “Prepare, Prevent, Protect”.

In October 2018, the RCFD conducted training under similar circumstances on West Street near Downtown Rapid City. A residential structure slated for demolition was donated to the RCFD to utilize for training and drills. The skills that firefighters were taught during that training were put to use just over a month later as firefighters rescued occupants of an apartment building during a fire in the 2000 block of Cherry Avenue. Rapid City Firefighters have conducted training and drills in a number of other area structures and venues recently. Last fall, the RCFD conducted training at Vickie Powers Park. The Rushmore Mall hosted search training this past March.  

Above: Under the close watch of a young admirer, Engine 4 crews participate in search training at Vickie Powers Park during a November 2018 training evolution.

For questions or comment regarding this release please contact Lt. Jim Bussell, Public Information Officer for the Rapid City Fire Department, at 605-394-4180.