By Rita Shirley LeBleu

A groundbreaking marked delivery of materials for the new South Cameron Fire Department burn building Wednesday, Feb. 18. South Cameron Fire Department Chief Tim Dupont said the $419,600 project going up at the Creole station has been fully funded by Venture Global.

“This structure will allow firefighters to practice going in and fighting structure and house fires,” said Dupont, a 25-year fire fighting veteran. “We learn a lot by repetition,” he said. “Training helps work out the little details that can help save lives.”

Special liner and insulation materials will be used to build the 16-by-22-foot structure that will be elevated 15 feet and allow for live burns. Movable walls are incorporated for search and rescue training.

Training that strengthens local fire suppression capabilities can “drastically reduce fire insurance rates,” according to Logan Manuel, SCFD Fire Asst. Chief/PIO and CP1 Venture Global Fire Deputy Chief.

Venture Global firefighters will also train at the Creole burn building.

The South Cameron Fire Dept. is the result of consolidation of the Cameron, Creole and Grand Chenier departments. The service area spans from the Ship Channel in Cameron at the ferry to the parish line in Grand Chenier and north to the Gibbstown/Conway LeBleu Bridge. Like fire departments in other rural areas across the country, Dupont’s biggest challenge has been recruiting volunteers. Dupont said incorporating and training parish crew workers has been the answer. Currently the department has seven fire stations and 13 vehicles.

Foundation work will begin on the burn building next week, the Fire Chief said. The project, located at 184 East Creole Hwy. will take about six weeks.