The City of Turlock and the Turlock Fire Department held the official dedication ceremony Tuesday morning of the Live Fire Training Structure that is being used to teach new recruits and give seasoned veterans practice in live fire operations that they could possibly experience at any location around town.

The grouping of cargo containers and stairwells offers the fire department a multitude of scenarios to use for training on firefighting techniques and rescue strategies. Those using the facility can experience the flames and thick smoke, while practicing how to move safely and effectively and learning how to vent the fires and the behavior of the flames.

The new facility replaces a small building that was decommissioned a few years back because of safety concerns. The structure was designed and built by a team of engineers and an architect. It’s made of steel and is seismically sound.