Vacant Buildings Wanted

TCFD is Requesting Help!

Vacant/Abandoned Buildings are Needed for Training Drills. 

The Traverse City Fire Department is asking property owners within the City of Traverse City who may have a structure that is abandoned and/or ready to be demolished to allow TCFD Firefighters to conduct training in it.

There are 2 types of training that the TCFD performs in these buildings:

Non-destructive training: Search and Rescue drills using training smoke machine.

If a property owner has a vacant structure that he/she would like to donate for use by the fire department, but doesn't want the building destroyed, it can be requested that the building be used for only non-destructive training.

Destructive: Breaching walls, roofs, ceilings, knocking out windows, use of water, hand tools, power tools, etc.

If a property owner has a vacant structure that is scheduled for demolition, the fire department would be grateful to use it for destructive training.

The Traverse City Fire Department needs abandoned/vacant buildings for these different types of training. The best structures for fire fighter training are ones that have low appeal for potential tenants/buyers. Buildings that are most sought after are:

Single family residences

Multi-family residences

One or two story apartment buildings

Strip shopping centers

Large "Big Box" facilities (commercial-type buildings, factories, stores, etc.)

Criteria for the properties include a completed asbestos survey (required prior to demolition), and a proof of NO insurance.