Springfield Fire Dept. trains with student-built props

The Springfield Fire Department joined a talented group of local high school students in a training demonstration. 22 News reporter Areta Odaya joins us live in studio with why this demonstration is extra special. A small yet mighty group of Putnam Vocational Tech Academy students visited the fire department to present the props they built in class for firefighters to train with. Think escape props for window training, structures to help crews who are trapped in a home on fire, the students using wood, screws and sheet metal, building multiple structures built for the department in just three weeks. And the firefighters showed with several demonstrations as you can see in their heavy 80 plus pound equipment just how important this carpentry work is. It's important for us is that we're able to utilize these props to enhance firefighter safety and survivability. We've been using pretty heavily and we wanted to say thank you to them and show them how we're implementing and using the equipment. The mayor, superintendent of Springfield Schools, Putnam staff and the fire department all gathering for the demo. The group also highlighting Putnam alum who now work at the fire department. Now this isn't the first time the carpentry students at Putnam have built for the city. They've done it for the Springfield Police Department, elementary schools and more. Working for you, Areta Odaya, 22 News.