Firefighters work to put out a controlled propane grill gas fire during a training exercise Tuesday. Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT

Southwestern Michigan College’s Niles campus was a hotbed of activity Tuesday evening as firefighters from several different departments participated in a propane emergency training exercise there.

Michigan Propane Gas Association, of Lansing, set up its propane emergencies mobile training unit in the campus parking lot.

The training involved a hands-on session involving live-burn scenarios designed to simulate various types of propane emergencies. Several different stations were set up and set on fire, including a propane gas grill, propane tank and gas meter. An instructor then walked firefighters through the best strategy to put out each fire.

Firefighters from Howard Township, Niles, Edwardsburg and Pokagon participated in the training exercise.

Farm Bureau Oil Company, of Eau Claire, brought in a propane tanker to fuel the training exercise, which was hosted by the Howard Township Fire Department.

The Propane Emergency Response Training program is a state-certified course for all first responders. This training is free of charge to firefighters in the state of Michigan.

It has been provided to thousands of first responders throughout the state.

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