06-02-2025
2 old buildings help Northwest Florida firefighters, officials say
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WKRG) — Old buildings may not be the prettiest sights, but Fort Walton Beach officials say they can help first responders prepare for emergencies.
According to a City of Fort Walton Beach Facebook post, Fort Walton Beach Fire Department and Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District firefighters practiced their skills on two local buildings that were getting ready for demolition.
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Training opportunities were available at the old Okaloosa County School Board building and the old Northwest Florida Daily News office.
Firefighting officials said that the availability to practice in the two buildings before demolition allowed crews to practice their skills in a real-world environment.
'It's great to have real buildings to train on,' Fort Walton Beach Fire Chief Jeremy Morgan said. 'It's an opportunity to practice some firefighting techniques, like forcible entry through doors, without having to worry about destroying property.'
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Officials thanked Larry Ashley and Murphy USA for allowing the crews to use the buildings.
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