North Collier firefighters get rare access to unique training

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – Bentley Village, a large 65 plus community in Collier County, is undergoing a massive $70 million redevelopment project. However, before they tear down their old buildings, they’re donating them to the fire department.

Firefighters from North Collier Fire Rescue are spending much of the month of April training in the three story, abandoned 18 unit structures, previously condos.

Probationary Firefighter Daniel Jackson has only been on the job for three weeks but says access to training like this is beyond beneficial and gives them that real world element, they don’t get when training with props.

“You run into problems that arise in a real situation and so when you come across those problems you know how to react in the real situation,” said Jackson.

Micheal Jimenez, is one of the instructors for North Collier Fire Rescue and says firefighters from fresh out of the academy to 25 year veterans all benefit from this opportunity. Whether it’s searching for a victim in a smoke filled room or breaching through a wall.

“They realize how dark it is, the only thing we can’t show them yet, is how hot it’s going to be but everything else is exactly what it would be on a real call,” said Jimenez.

Firefighters will continue to train at Bentley Village through the end of April.