Firefighters train at old Rutenberg Library set to be demolished

Reporter: Michelle Alvarez
Published: Updated:
Firefighters train at the old Gutenberg Library in south Fort Myers. (CREDIT: WINK News)

Firefighters are taking over the old Rutenberg Library in Lee County this week to practice real-time scenarios.

Different fire crews are using the library in south Fort Myers to work with one another.

For example, at one point the building was filled with smoke so crews could work through different search and rescue situations.

“We’ve got a new, unique opportunity. We have a building here that we acquired. It’s going in for demolition, so we are doing a cooperative training with all the departments in the county,” said Iona McGregor Fire District Lt. Mike Quilty.

Crews from South Trail, Iona-McGregor and the City of Fort Myers are participating in the training this week.

“Most of the time our trainings are happening at our training facilities so after a while we get used to what those layouts look like, what those buildings look like. It’s not as realistic,” Quilty said.

How is training the difference between life and death?

“Anytime we get in these fires, it gets hectic, adrenaline goes up, there is radio problems, and the only way for us to keep track of each other and know what we are doing and get all of our goals accomplished is through communication,” Quilty said. “That’s always a big problem for us all the time, so any time we can get to these trainings and practice our communications as well, it’s just going to make us that much better.”

 

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