Three hundred Jacksonville firefighters get on board at FSCJ Fire Academy "burn ship" simulator

Sheldon Reed is executive director of the Fire Academy of the South on Florida State College at Jacksonville's South Campus, home of one of a handful of maritime fire-fighting training facilities in the nation. He explains that with the expansion of the port and of the Panama Canal, the anticipated increase in maritime traffic now more than ever requires fire fighters be prepared to handle the unique circumstances of maritime firefighting.The Fire Academy's "burn ship" simulator is a critical element in training fire fighters to learn the distinct dfferences between a house fire and a ship fire. It's a dangerous environment that is best understood through experience. The burn ship simulator affords fire fighters the chance to learn in a controlled but realistic environment.  WJXT has a gallery of images related to Rakow's visit to the Fire Acadmey, which can be seen by clicking here. Aired WJXT Channel 4 Oct. 10, 2013 at 7 a.m.