Lookingglass Rural Fire District would like to thank Overhead Door Company for its generous donation of used garage doors to support hands-on firefighter training.

Garage doors can present unique challenges during structure fires and other emergency incidents. Their construction, locking systems, tracks, springs, and operating mechanisms can make access difficult and can also create additional hazards for firefighters. Understanding how these systems are built and how they react during forcible entry is an important part of firefighter preparedness.

Forcible entry is a skill that requires more than classroom instruction. Firefighters need opportunities to work with real materials, use the appropriate tools, practice different techniques, and learn how to safely and efficiently gain access when normal entry points are unavailable.

Thanks to this donation, LRFD volunteers will be able to conduct realistic garage-door forcible-entry training in a controlled environment. The donated doors will allow personnel to practice techniques before having to perform them during an actual emergency, helping improve both firefighter safety and operational effectiveness.

For a small volunteer fire district, donations of training materials also help stretch limited training funds further. Instead of purchasing materials that will be damaged or destroyed during training, LRFD can direct those funds toward other necessary equipment, PPE, and training needs.

LRFD greatly appreciates Overhead Door Company for supporting our volunteers and investing in the preparedness of our department. Partnerships like this help ensure our personnel are better trained and better prepared to serve the Lookingglass community.