The Ashland Fire Department reported to the commission July 24 that it used two structures on Fourteenth Street for multi‑agency training exercises earlier in July, hosting dozens of students and instructors from across the region.

The department said it completed a structural-collapse rescue training July 13 in a former commercial building (the Century 21 building) with 62 students and 13 instructors representing 19 departments. Maguire’s Towing supplied vehicles for the exercise, including placing a sanitation truck in the rear and a vehicle through the building’s front, and assisted with crane operations to move rooftop equipment.

On July 19 the department conducted a live-fire training scenario in a house, with 40 students from 15 departments participating. State Fire Rescue Training assisted with paperwork and planning, the fire chief told commissioners, and the department coordinated with the city’s legal, sewer and street departments for logistical support.

Chief Ali thanked partner agencies and praised the department members who organized the events, saying the training also lowers city costs for debris removal because the structures were allowed to burn down in a controlled exercise. Commissioners suggested publicly recognizing Maguire’s Towing for its support and noted the department’s growing role as a regional training center.