Realistic fire conditions and complex rescue scenarios brought firefighters from multiple departments together in Excelsior Springs to strengthen their skills and prepare for emergencies.

The Excelsior Springs Fire Department (ESFD) recently hosted a two-day live-fire training alongside firefighters from the Smithville Area Fire Protection District and Kearney Fire & Rescue at its on-site training facility, the Assistant Chief John Potter Facility, marking the first joint training conducted there.

The training featured three primary scenarios designed to simulate different types of structure fires, with crews rotating through the roles of first-arriving, second-in and third-in mutual aid companies.

The first scenario involved a two-story house fire with victims trapped inside, according to Potter. Arriving crews established incident command, assessed the structure and began rescue or fire suppression operations. The scenario included a delay before a second responding truck or mutual …