SJFD begins structural fire training at MoWest

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph Fire Department is conducting its structural fire training.

The training will take place over the next three days on the Missouri Western State University baseball field.

This is the first time the SJFD has conducted this training. It all comes as the department aims to receive credit from the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

The University of Missouri offered SJFD a trailer for its live fire training. Inside the trailer, firefighters will fight a stove and bed fire with a fire hose.

Fire Chief Ivan Klippenstein said it's important for the fire department to do repetitive training.

"If we train them otherwise, they know what the outcome is going to be," Klippenstein said. "They know what their moves are going to be. It's just like in basketball or sports, the repetitive motions. You go back to that repetitive action. That's why we need to do it as much as we can."

Klippenstein said this training is especially great for the new firefighters.

"Not only where they get experience for the season, the firemen can work with them and see where they need help or what we need to train them," he said.