Wahpeton, ND — North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) has expanded the hands-on capabilities of its Fire Science program with the completion of a new two-story Container Fire Training Tower designed and manufactured by Symtech Fire.
The containerized facility gives NDSCS students access to a versatile environment for developing and reinforcing essential firefighting skills. Its multi-level design supports realistic training scenarios involving live-fire operations, fire behavior observation, search and rescue, hose advancement, ventilation, ladder operations, and coordinated interior fire attack.
At the center of the facility are two Class “A” burn rooms, with one located on each floor. This configuration allows instructors to conduct live-fire training on multiple levels and introduce different fire conditions, access points, and operational objectives. Crews can practice advancing through the structure, coordinating interior operations, and responding to scenarios involving both first- and second-floor fires.
An interior staircase connects the two floors, allowing students to practice vertical movement, hose advancement, search operations, and coordinated responses between levels. Movable wall panels provide additional flexibility by allowing instructors to adjust the interior layout and create different pathways and challenges for successive training sessions.
The structure also includes exterior working decks, an exterior staircase, fixed ladders, and multiple training doors and windows. Together, these features support exercises across the interior and exterior of the tower while allowing instructors to vary conditions and objectives rather than relying on one fixed scenario.
“We went through a pretty rigorous search process, and discovered that Symtech structures are built to last,” said Clint Gilbertson, Fire Chief for the NDSCS Fire Science Program. “They are truly a full-service operation, which is something we really appreciate. [The Container Tower] is going to be a great addition to our Fire Science program.”
The new facility supports the practical learning component of NDSCS’s Fire Science program, which prepares students for careers in the fire service through education in firefighting techniques, rescue operations, fire protection systems, emergency response, and firefighter safety. It may also create opportunities for NDSCS to support continued training for fire service professionals throughout the region.
With the tower now complete, NDSCS has a durable, purpose-built resource that can support repeated skill development, increasingly advanced scenarios, and the evolving needs of its Fire Science program for years to come.
About Symtech Fire
Symtech Fire provides industry-leading Class “A” and Class “B” live-fire training systems engineered to meet or exceed NFPA 1400 standards. With a commitment to innovation, reliability, and long-term customer partnerships, Symtech Fire serves fire departments and training centers across North America and internationally.
