Fire Department

The City of Madison Fire Department will begin two weeks of heavy rescue training on the site of St. Raphael's Cathedral, 401 E. Main St., beginning Monday, July 7.

The training is being planned in conjunction with the Diocese of Madison, Landgraf Construction, and Graf, Anhalt, Schloemer, & Associates. The companies are managing the demolition of the building, which was destroyed by arson in 2005.

The Department is also being assisted by Madison Pipe, which is contributing and delivering concrete culverts to the site. The culverts are being used to develop the training scenarios.

The training will focus on building collapse and confined space rescue. The Department has a regional heavy rescue team dedicated to technical rescues with an emphasis on collapse and confined space.

The training will not involve live fire scenarios; no burn exercises will be conducted.