Kear's building to house fire training

The former Kear's Speed Shop building, 6 E. Market St., will house Tiffin Fire/Rescue Division for the next three or four weeks. Tiffin Fire/Rescue Division Chief Rob Chappell told the A-T the department anticipates it will be using the building for for about that long or until demolition is ready to begin. "With the building consisting of a large bay area, a mercantile portion and four residential apartments, we will be able to perform numerous training skills and evolutions," he said. "It is expected that we will be practicing laddering techniques with both ground and aerial ladders, search and rescue drills, hose advancement exercises, breaching walls and more." "The owner, Eduardo Hernando, contacted me to ask if the fire department would have an interest in using the building for training prior to demolition. With the unique combination of different areas in the building, this is a rare but extraordinary opportunity for us." While the fire department exists, in part, to preserve property, being offered the ability to train in the former Kear's building prior to its demolition will better prepare our personnel to protect other buildings in the future," Chappell said. "We appreciate Mr. Hernando and the Tiffin Riverfront Development project for offering our department this opportunity." The building will be demolished, and the site will be home to the Tiffin Riverfront Development project. Tiffin Riverfront Development LLC closed on the purchase of the building back in February. The project is expected to provide Tiffin with 75-unit, multi-family apartments overlooking the Sandusky River.