Take a Look Inside the Illinois Fire Training Institute

IFSI's brick firehouse closely resembles a real fire house and is used to help indoctrinate new recruits in Basic Firefighter Academy to what it is like on the job.

It is home to the two frontline engines and ladder truck.

The new building on the west side houses the frontline squad and our reserve snorkel, tower ladder and squad/ambulance.

The Illinois Propane Research and Education Council (IPERC) funding provides this dedicated area to stage live propane gas burns. Firefighters safely train in this controlled environment on props ranging from twenty pound cylinders to a bobtail truck, as well as flame impingement and industrial leak simulations.

This two-story class A burn structure allows for nine different evolutions to take place at one time. The floors and ceilings are lined with refractory material that protects the prop during continuous use through IFSI's burn season. Commonly called "the taxpayer," this structure represents a mixed occupancy building often encountered by fire departments. Hinged roof vents and a bulk head door on the roof present realistic ventilation challenges.

The Fire and Arson Investigation area (four buildings and one intermodal container) is designed to develop and demonstrate a variety of fire investigation scenarios. Controlled burn evolutions are assembled to showcase fire behavior and evidentiary patterns for investigation students.

The creative use of intermodal containers makes this above ground trench rescue prop. It features four trenches at various angles, depths, and configurations to meet the objectives of NFPA 1006 and 1670, and also serves as storage for trench rescue tools.

The ag rescue program is growing as more rural departments demand training for grain bin rescue, equipment entanglements and fires on the farm. The southeast corner of the IFSI campus is dedicated to ag rescue scenarios.

This rail-tanker program area is expected to expand in the coming years. Rail cars are mounted on tracks and simulate what first responders are likely to encounter in various scenarios – particularly tank cars leaking hazardous materials.

This area is dedicated to vehicle and machinery rescue classes. Auto extrication classes are held in the fenced area and in the adjoining building.

These two intermodal containers were designed to meet the growing need for live-fire burns. They assist IFSI in providing basic fire behavior training, as well as supporting research activities and burns which call for a highly controlled set of circumstances.

This extensive structure was designed using intermodal containers in multiple configurations to provide training for high-angle rope rescue, confined space rescue and other multi-story training scenarios. This four story prop allows rescuers to maneuver through vertical and horizontal hatches to rescue simulated victims, as well as perform more elaborate movement of victims between two high-point anchors using an English Reeves system.

This non-burn, multi-story training prop was designed using intermodal containers. The structure contains realistic environments of a laundromat, offices, machine shop, fitness center, complex stairwells, multiple apartments, and restaurant with commercial kitchen. First responders are challenged to work around equipment, furniture and other obstacles as they plan and implement fire fighting and rescue strategies. This prop will soon be outfitted with a fully functional alarm system and Class A smoke system.

This prop's interior provides a simulated, collapsed, heavily-constructed concrete and steel building. Once inside the rescuer will encounter columns that have been compromised in shear "punch thru" collapse. Rescuers conduct horizontal and vertical breaches, construct shoring and cribbing. First responders are challenged to work around office equipment and other obstacles in a search and rescue scenario.

This prop is designed as a 2.5-story wood frame structure to expose the rescuer to proper shoring techniques, void exploration and victim removal. One wall is designed for exterior shoring exercises. The rescuer will also encounter numerous shoring situations inside the structure. This prop was also designed to have moveable floors and walls. Rescuers will be challenged to work around furniture and appliances in a search and rescue scenario.

This is the largest of the collapse rescue piles in the area dedicated to IFSI's Collapse Rescue Technician program. The prop is constructed of heavy concrete and steel and features an elevator shaft, two stairwells, an office areas and simulated parking garage. Rescuers are challenged to perform numerous breached to access voids and to move within the prop. Crane operations can be incorporated into this prop to allow the rescuer to move large concrete objects within and around the structure.

This pile of concrete and debris allows first responders to do search and rescue training. It is one of two collapse rescue training piles on the southwest corner of IFSI's Champaign campus.

The 4-story tower is one of the original fire fighting training structures on the campus. Originally constructed in the 1960s with open walls, the prop can now accommodate burns on its second through sixth floors. The internal standpipe system allows for high rise scenarios that challenge firefighters to use high-rise packs instead of pre-connected hand lines. The first level bays also serves as a home to IFSI's reserve engines and the Institute's fixed SCBA fill stations and compressors.

This single-story Class A burn building floor plan represents the environment firefighters might encounter in a small single family dwelling. The interior floors and ceilings are covered with refractory material, allowing the building to be used many times during a burn season. Hinged doors on the roof lets firefighters learn skills relative to vertical ventilation.

This was IFSI's first intermodal training prop, and is the prototype for the regional fire training simulators located around the state to bring smoke training closer to fire departments. Its two stories allow firefighters to learn size up and assessment of a fire to help plan strategy. This prop will soon be updated to represent a two story single family structure. The update will include the addition of a Class A smoke system.