On April 6, 2023, dispatchers from the Northern Middlesex Regional Emergency Communications Center (NMRECC) had the opportunity to visit the Dracut Fire Department during a live training exercise inside an abandoned building scheduled for demolition.
With approval from the property’s owners, the building was used one final time — this time as a hands-on training ground. Firefighters filled the structure with simulated smoke to replicate zero-visibility conditions, practicing search and rescue, fire attack strategies, and team-based operations in a controlled but realistic environment.
Our dispatchers observed the exercise firsthand, gaining critical insight into the high-risk, low-visibility conditions that firefighters often face. Seeing the scenario in person offered a powerful reminder of the importance of clear, accurate communication during emergency responses—and the life-or-death decisions often made on the other end of the radio.
Opportunities like this strengthen our connection with field responders and reinforce our shared mission: protecting life, property, and each other.
A heartfelt thank you to the Dracut Fire Department for inviting us, and to the building’s owners for allowing us to use it for this impactful purpose before demolition.