Del City firefighters practice skills

Del City firefighters spent their Sunday brushing up on their skills.

Sunday, April 13th 2008, 11:43 pm

By: News 9


By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

Del City firefighters spent their Sunday brushing up on their skills.

The emergency responders put out practice fires started by flammable liquids like propane, diesel and ethanol.

"One of the big issues out right now is ethanol," Major Brandon Purcell said. "So we're learning more about that how to fight those types of fires."

While the firefighters trained, the public got a rare look at what the job is like.

Eight-year-old Tristan Marti is preparing for his future. He wants to be a firefighter just like his dad.

"It was very cool," he said of Sunday's demonstration.

His dad, Sonny Marti, said he's glad his son enjoyed the exercise.

"It's exciting to be able to let him see what we do in the fire service," he said.

University leaders focus on safety

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

EDMOND, Okla. -- Improving security on college campuses is the focus of a national summit this week at the University of Central Oklahoma.

The summit began Sunday with a mock shooting on the Edmond campus. Organizers said the program prepares local emergency responders to deal with a real-life crisis.

"I don't think anybody wants to think we can have a tragedy like what can happen at Virginia and Northern Illinois here on an Oklahoma campus," said Jeff Harp, UCO director of public safety. "But the reality is, it can happen anywhere."

Students said they're glad to see universities increase safety measures.

"Campuses are being very responsible that there's this training," said Heidi Silcox, UCO student.

"We get warnings if there's a possibility if someone is spotted with a weapon."

UCO officials said if an emergency happens, they will notify students and staff by text, phone and e-mail.

Gov. Brad Henry created a task-force on campus security in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings.  He's scheduled to present a summary of the group's findings Monday at the summit.

More than 40 firefighters worked Sunday to extinguish a blaze in an abandoned building near downtown Oklahoma City.

The old Townley's Dairy, 500 S Eckroat St., was destroyed by a fire that started after 5 p.m. The building has been vacant for about a decade and caught on fire before, officials said.

Firefighters said the fire looks suspicious. A number of homeless people have been using the building as shelter, officials said.

"More than likely it's going to be people generated, or something along those lines because there's no electricity to the building," Deputy Chief Marc Woodard said.

No one was injured in the fire. High winds and the flames did ignite several grass fires in the area, but they were quickly extinguished.

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