Macomb Fire Chief Andy Taylor said he hopes the scenarios under which the department's purchases and subsequent training may be needed will never happen here.

Firefighters trained recently on the new equipment, which was received in February and March. Macomb firefighters joined those from the Emmet-Chalmers Fire Protection District at the Macomb fire training facility to test out the pieces.

The Macomb department bought the equipment with a $52,000 grant received in 2006 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grant required a $2,500 match from the local department.

About half of the money went to buy two thermal imaging cameras to replace the department's previous models. One of the cameras can take digital pictures and the other transmits to a television screen outside so those in charge can see what's going on inside a burning or collapsed structure.

The transmitting camera also shows those outside the temperature inside. The only thing in color on the black and white transmission is heat sources.

The rest of the grant money went to buy Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) packs and a variety of tools, including a portable hydraulic hand pump and a smaller, battery-operated "jaws of life" extricating tool.

During the recent training, the departments trained in RIT by sending teams of firefighters into the training facility under the scenario of a house fire. The facility was filled with smoke and some of the entrances were blocked by 4-inch-thick boards. Firefighters had to chop through to get to the next section.

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