From Demolition to Fire Training: A Community Partnership

At DataBank, we understand that being a good neighbor means going above and beyond to actively contribute to the communities where we operate. That’s why we’re always looking for meaningful ways to support local organizations and demonstrate our commitment to being a positive community partner.

Recently, a scheduled building demolition on our Culpeper, VA campus presented exactly that kind of opportunity.

An Unexpected Partnership: Turning Teardown into Training

When an old house on DataBank’s Culpeper County property was scheduled for demolition, what seemed like a routine teardown became an opportunity to address a critical community need.

The connection began when both Culpeper County government and the Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Department became aware that the building was due for demolition and reached out to DataBank. What started as a simple inquiry quickly evolved into something much more significant. The chance to provide firefighters with the kind of realistic training opportunity that’s exceptionally rare.

This was an attractive option because Culpeper County lacks a dedicated fire training facility. Their training facilities are located 30-90 minutes away in neighboring counties. This results in taking critical resources outside the county for the duration of the training. While the fire department is occasionally offered buildings for training, most of these structures don’t meet the necessary safety and structural standards required by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs for comprehensive firefighter drills.

“We do have access to training facilities about once a year, but firefighters can get too familiar with those spaces,” said Cody Fairfax, Firefighter and Instructor, Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Department. “The issue is that they tend to know where everything is, which reduces the realism of the training. Firefighters’ skills are perishable, so it’s important that we give them the best training environment possible to enhance their abilities.”

Data Center Community Partnership

DataBank’s building was different. It was in good structural condition and perfectly suited for the advanced training techniques that local firefighters needed to practice.

Rather than simply proceeding with demolition, DataBank worked closely with Culpeper County government representatives to ensure all legal and insurance requirements were met. This enabled the fire department to coordinate a three-day training program that would benefit the entire county.

“This partnership with the Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Department perfectly exemplifies our approach to community engagement,” said Antonia Passalacqua, Public Policy Lead at DataBank. “We’re always looking for creative ways to work with local organizations through meaningful opportunities that deliver real benefits to the communities where we operate.”

The Training Program

The training program followed a three-day “crawl-walk-run” methodology, with a total of 46 volunteers participating, including two other fire companies and career EMS personnel. Each day focused on different training techniques and created progressively more complex scenarios, allowing firefighters to build skills systematically while working in realistic conditions.

The residential building could be customized to change room layouts and possible scenarios each day. This led to a better training environment that couldn’t be replicated in a typical training facility.

The comprehensive nature of the training program allowed firefighters to practice a wide range of critical skills and scenarios:

Structural Operations:

• Vertical ventilation techniques using chainsaws, ladders, and roof access
• Wall breaching for emergency access and egress
• Maneuvering through building studs during rescue operations

Search and Rescue:

• Search and rescue operations using mannequins of different sizes
• Basement exercises to simulate rescue operations in confined spaces
• Hoarder environment simulations with realistic clutter and obstacles

Fire Suppression and Support:

• Hose line advancement in various building configurations
• Water supply operations, including portable water supply systems
• Smoke machine exercises for reduced visibility training

Emergency Response Coordination:

• Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) drills for firefighter rescue scenarios
• Victim treatment and transport coordination with EMS teams positioned outside the building

This type of comprehensive, hands-on training is exactly what firefighters need to maintain their skills and readiness. Yet finding suitable buildings for these exercises tends to be an ongoing challenge for volunteer departments.

A Unique Perspective: From Data Center Manager to Fire Chief

Charles Perryman understands both sides of this collaboration, having spent 39 years as a data center manager while also dedicating time to the Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Department before becoming Fire Chief.

“I’ve rarely seen corporate partners step up like this for public safety training,” said Charles “Jr.” Perryman, Fire Chief, Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Department. “We rarely receive donated buildings from commercial providers, and certainly not from data center operators.

“What DataBank provided was truly exceptional. Not just a building, but a fully coordinated training opportunity that directly enhances our ability to protect our community.”