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Firefighters Smoke Up, Smash Through Old Eatery

KATHY WATERS/HIGHLANDS TODAY

Firefighter Danny Lobozzo breaks through a wall during a firefighter survival training exercise on Wednesday at the abandoned Candlelight Restaurant in Sun ’n Lake of Sebring.

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By Dan  Fearson | Highlands Today

Published: November 23, 2007

SEBRING — It's not uncommon for firefighters to bust through doors and walls, crawl through smoke-filled rooms and tear through roofs to save lives. With this in mind, the Sun 'n Lake of Sebring Fire Department would rather err on the side of caution.

Recently, in an attempt to train department staff, sessions have been held in the abandoned Candlelight restaurant, located at 5223 Sun 'n Lake Blvd.

If you drive by and see smoke coming out of the building and fire trucks outside, don't fear for the worst.

"Our firefighters have taken full advantage of the empty shell and have been conducting training exercises," said Sam Henderson, Sun 'n Lake's director of public safety. "The training emphasizes search, rescue, ventilation and firefighter survival drills."

The building, which was a hotspot for locals years ago, now has holes in its walls and roof, dangling wiring and ripped up insulation sitting on the ground.

"The building is actually property of Sun 'n Lake," said Henderson. "So we just decided to start using it until it's scheduled to be torn down on Dec. 3."

Henderson said the department uses the structure a few times per week and tries to schedule training sessions with other departments. So far, several departments have taken advantage of its use. Henderson said that firefighters from seven departments as far away as Lorida have honed their skills in the building.

"It offers our firefighters the opportunity to train in a layout that has many rooms, just like a household has," said Henderson. "It's a great asset for us. It provides us with a safe and controlled structure to practice in."

The department serves about 6,000 residents and responds to an average of 40 to 45 calls per month, with an average of three to four working fire structures per year.

Search and rescue training has included firefighters smashing in walls while providing themselves enough room to crawl through holes with their oxygen tanks and a mannequin, posing as a human.

The building was also smoked out during one training session, allowing the firefighters the chance to experience what it is like to work as a team during an emergency situation.

According to Sun 'n Lake firefighter Danny Lobozzo, who recently graduated from Fire College, the training has been a huge help.

"Training inside of a building like this is probably a little bit better than what we had to work with in college," said Lobozzo. "It's very hard to simulate what you actually go through during a real fire."

Henderson said that the department has hired a handful of new employees, and the training will be an essential part of their learning process.

Brandon Albritton, who is also a new department hire, echoed Lobozzo's thoughts.

"This is just a great way to train," said Albritton. "In college we used mazes and things like that. We didn't have an actual building. This gives us a chance to do a lot more."

"When we did our smoke-out training it helped me adjust to certain procedures," said Albritton. "In college everyone is taught the same way. But after the training I've had here, I've learned that there are different ways people go about their business to adjust to certain situations."

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