In February, Project Manager Scott McKenna was approached by the City of Charleston fire department with the idea of using the building for training. Scott happily allowed the firefighters to train in the building since there was nothing that could be damaged. We saw the firefighters perform a rescue of a fellow firefighters by breaking threw a wall, as well as a simulation of a rescue in smoky conditions. 

City of Charleston Fire Department Training from Stephanie Hughes on Vimeo.

Rescuing a fellow firefighter

Clothes over their faces simulates smoky conditions

Then, the City of Charleston SWAT team wanted a piece of the action and began holding training sessions at The Cigar Factory too.

SWAT team gearing up for training

Project Manager Scott McKenna will continue to allow both the fire department and SWAT team to train in the building as the construction schedule allows.