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Trustees approve temporary use of 612 N. Main for firefighter training; board places conditions
Summary
The board approved use of the vacant former Chase Lumber parcel at 612 N. Main for firefighter training through the end of the year, permitting interior breaching and salvage of materials for training props and requiring advance schedules and notice for events.
Cottage Grove, Wis. — The Village Board on May 4 approved a request from the Cottage Grove Fire Department to use the former Chase Lumber site at 612 N. Main for firefighter training, including water‑movement drills, wide‑area searches, elevated rescues and rapid intervention practice.
Assistant Chief Lance Severson told trustees the vacant steel building offers a controlled environment to practice multi‑floor searches and rope and ladder rescues and that training would primarily use interior walls and props rather than exterior structural demolition. He said training could begin as early as next month and asked for flexibility to use the site up to the planned demolition date, while pledging to coordinate schedules and public notice.
Trustees sought assurances about public safety, insurance and timelines for demolition and restoration. Staff said the village would execute a short contract clarifying liability and that outside agencies wishing to train there would be responsible for their own insurance. Trustee Cameron successfully proposed a friendly amendment specifying that demolition and restoration would not be scheduled toward the end of the year, to preserve training runway.
The board approved the motion with a condition that the department provide a tentative site schedule and give advance notice if traffic or lane closures were needed. Chief Severson also noted the department intends to salvage usable wood and structural steel from the building for training props prior to demolition; trustees signaled acceptance of that approach.
What’s next: The fire department will provide a tentative training schedule to staff for public posting; staff will prepare a short use agreement clarifying insurance and limits on structural damage.
Representative quote: “If we have it, we will use it,” Assistant Chief Lance Severson said, describing the department’s willingness to open training to neighboring agencies after their own members are trained.
