Fire Training Conducted on Future Beneficial Bank Property

The Broomall Fire Co. has held several firefighter trainings at the future Beneficial Bank site at Paxon Hollow and Sproul roads this week and more trainings are expected throughout the month. 

The fire company acquired three structures on the property which are scheduled for demolition later this month, according to Broomall Fire Co. Public Information Officer Tony Cavarocchi.

In September 2012, Marple Township Board of Commissioners approved the building of a new Beneficial Mutual Savings Bank branch on the former corn stand spot property.

The three structures will be used for firefighter training, which include interior search and rescue, hose operations and exterior operations like laddering, ventilation, roof operations and building construction.

The buildings are never set on fire during these trainings.

Simulated fire conditions, using theatrical smoke and smoke from smoldering wet straw in fire proof containers, are used during interior operations training, according to Cavarocchi.

Letters were hand delivered to surrounding residents prior to the first training on Monday, which explained that the fire department would be conducting these trainings, according to Cavarocchi. 

At the Monday training, however, it was discovered that the combination of theatrical smoke and smoldering straw was producing too much smoke in the neighborhood so the fire company has since refrained from using the straw in the remainder of the trainings, he said.

"This is a great opportunity for firefighter training and we applaud the contractor’s forward thinking to allow us to use the buildings prior to demolition," Cavarocchi said in an email message.