The University of Illinois Springfield partnered with the Springfield Fire Department on Oct. 14 to conduct live-fire training at the former Sunflower Court apartments, providing firefighters with valuable hands-on experience while saving the university money on demolition costs.

The training was the first of three scheduled controlled burns at the site, with additional exercises planned for Oct. 21 and 28. The collaboration allowed firefighters to practice responding to structure fires and conducting rescues in a realistic environment.

"It's huge for us because it's very rare that we get to actually train on live fire," said Julie Plunk, assistant fire chief with the Springfield Fire Department. "We are responding to structure fires in the city, but to actually slow down and get the reps that our people need is pretty rare. So we're very grateful."

During the exercise, firefighters practiced locating and rescuing a training dummy from inside a building and extinguishing fires using hose lines.

"We have a dummy in there that our firefighters are crawling around, and they've got to find the dummy and bring the dummy outside," Plunk said. "We also have one of the rooms on fire, so they'll take a stretched hand line in and go in and put the fire out."

The former Sunflower Court apartments, built in 1980, were no longer needed for student housing. By allowing the Springfield Fire Department to use the buildings for controlled burns before their removal, UIS reduced demolition costs while providing an opportunity for local firefighters to strengthen their emergency response skills.

The initiative highlighted the strong partnership between UIS and the City of Springfield, demonstrating how collaboration can support public safety, provide valuable training opportunities and make efficient use of university resources while preparing the campus for future growth.

Following the removal of the apartments, the Sunflower Court site will be redeveloped for a new laboratory building supporting UIS' Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Technology program, which is scheduled to launch in fall 2027. The new program will focus on applied engineering skills, including robotics, automation, sensors and controls, preparing students for careers in manufacturing and other technology-driven industries.

Additional controlled training burns are scheduled for Oct. 21 and 28 at Sunflower Court.