New Vehicle for U.P. Firefighter Training

The Village of L’Anse is about to become the owner of the only high-tech fire training car in the Upper Peninsula. It’s not a car you drive around. Rather, it’s a car that uses propane and artificial smoke to simulate the different types of vehicle fires that firefighters may encounter on the job.

L’Anse Councilman Ron Ervast, who’s a member of the fire department, hopes that the L’Anse department can also rent the car out to other organizations in the region for training… and make some money.

Ervast says new vehicle designs and fuel sources are creating different types of challenges for firefighters responding to accidents. The car is being purchased with a $55,000 grant that was set in motion by former Assistant Chief Mike Jensen.

Jensen moved to Florida early this year… but is scheduled to return to L’Anse this weekend for the first training session. The L’Anse Council approved payment for the fire training car at its meeting last night.