Firefighters Use Vacant Homes For Training In Burlington County

By Syma Chowdhry

MOUNT HOLLY TOWNSHIP N.J., (CBS) – CBS 3 Eyewitness News got a first-hand look at how some local firefighters are using soon-to-be demolished homes as a training ground.

CBS 3 Eyewitness News Reporter Syma Chowdhry suited up for a session Wednesday and has the story from Burlington County, New Jersey.

Glass shatters as firefighters in Burlington County get a unique opportunity to train on real houses.

Several homes in the Mount Holly Gardens neighborhood had been acquired by the town and are vacant.

Township officials plan to tear the houses down next week.

"This is an entire neighborhood, it was a blighted neighborhood that was slated for redevelopment," said Westampton Township Fire Chief Jason Carty.

Chief Carty wanted to get in the homes to practice some firefighter techniques they normally don't get to do in a practice facility.

"It's not the fire academy we train in over and over again. It's the same floor plan building make up, same elevation, whereas these are homes people actually resided in. It provided different opportunities," said Chief Carty.

To get a real experience, CBS 3 Eyewitness News Reporter Syma Chowdhry geared up and rode along as if they were responding to a fire call.

They got the door open, hauled the fire hose in and turned it on.

For legal and safety reasons -- they cannot light the homes on fire -- but can do anything else.

"Breaking the glass and clearing out the windows," said Chief Carty.

"Ventilating the roof," said Chief Carty.

The firefighters say this real life experience helps them train to save lives.

You can see firefighters breaking through the ceiling trying to find pockets of fire.

"Provides us to improve our skill set which at the end of the day helps the residents we serve," said Chief Carty.