Acquired Structures

As a reminder, any acquired structure for the AST program is off limits to fire department personnel unless participating in an officially sanctioned and coordinated training session that has been scheduled by the AST program coordinator.

Coordinator

Captain Shelley Wheeler

[email protected]
240-505-0646

General Information

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA) education and training programs help MCFRS personnel operate safely and effectively while carrying out MCFRS missions. The high-level education and training that MCFRS personnel receive allow us to effectively and safely protect the citizens and their property. The PSTA develops and facilitates programs that focus on the changing dynamics of residential, commercial, and industrial fires, building construction, and the impact these changes have on strategies and tactics. Therefore, the Acquired Structure Training (AST) program is integral to respond to a rapidly changing environment by ensuring the ongoing development of MCFRS personnel.

MCFRS actively seeks out buildings to use for training. These buildings are referred to as acquired structures (AS). Acquired Structure Training (AST) (the training that takes place in an AS) provides valuable hands-on training for MCFRS personnel that cannot be duplicated with the structures located on our fixed facility at the PSTA. Therefore, your willingness and generosity to donate your property to the AST program are of tremendous value to both MCFRS personnel and the community we serve.

Realistic Scenario Training

Group of fire fighters preparing to enter a room

Fire fighter preparing to breach a door with other fire fighters

Group of fire fighters outside a smoke filled room

Fire fighters entering a smoke filled room

Two fire fighters in the entry way of a smoke filled room

Aerial view of an ambulance and fire engine parked outside a training building

The type of training we conduct varies based on the building type, construction, and project timeline. We accept all types of building, with a few stipulations because we operate under the premise that the building is more than reasonably safe. Although AS buildings are going to be torn down, we will reject buildings (regardless of non-destructive or destructive training) that are structurally unsound to the point of being hazardous, infested with rodents, other sanitary risks that would put our personnel at harm, or any other situation that would deem the building unsafe for our personnel. The MCFRS AST program’s number one goal is to provide quality, realistic training that has addressed important Risk Management principles that adhere to the highest level of safety possible, for both the property owner and our personnel.

Non-Destructive Training

This is the simplest and most flexible type of training. This type of training ensures that there is no damage to the property, yet allows for the practice of important basic skills such as advancing a dry hose line, search techniques, ladder placement, apparatus positioning, building rope systems, etc.

Destructive Training

This type of training provides the most realistic training, which will likely yield damage to the property. Therefore, the building must have a demolition permit before we start this type of training.

Destructive training allows our personnel to realistically practice skills such as fire attack methods (hose stretches and fire attack techniques using water), ventilation methods (cutting holes in the roof), forcible entry (forcibly opening doors, cutting security bars off windows, etc.), search and rescue, ladder throws, firefighter survival techniques, etc. This type of AST affords MCFRS personnel the opportunity to train in an environment that is more than reasonably safe yet still providing a way to sharpen and broaden their skills by practicing them in different types of structures.

Ideally, we would like to have a four-week window to ensure that we have enough time to complete the required paperwork so that we still have ample time to train. However, depending on the time it takes to complete all the paperwork some sites may have a longer training cycle than others. Therefore, we like to approach each site on a scalable level. For example, non-destructive training requires less paperwork and allows our personnel to start training sooner than later. After a demolition permit and its associated paperwork (i.e., asbestos-free certification/abatement) are received we can transition to destructive training with ease, providing every opportunity for a rich, rewarding, and safe training experience for our MCFRS personnel.

Company/Battalion Level Requests

The Acquired Structures Training (AST) program supports company/battalion-level training opportunities. You can find out more information and request training on the Company/Battalion Level page.

Process to Obtain a Structure

Required Documents

Documents are provided online so that they may be easily exchanged. An MCFRS representative will be assigned to help facilitate the entire process. The documents authorize MCFRS personnel use of a building and outline our responsibilities to the property owner.

Owner Packet

MCFRS

Although we understand that donated buildings are going to be torn down, we will reject buildings (regardless of non-destructive or destructive training) that are structurally unsound to the point of being hazardous, infested with rodents, other sanitary risks that would put our personnel at risk for harm, or any other situation that would deem the building unsafe for our personnel, as we operate under the premise that the building is more than reasonably safe.

Donate

To begin the donation process contact Captain Shelley Wheeler at the Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA). Captain Wheeler is the Acquired Structure Training (AST) program manager and will be happy to answer any questions, as well as guide you through the donation process.