Firefighters Gain Rare Access to Train Inside Massive Commercial Building Before It Opens

Hands-on Firefighter Training in Brownsburg, Indiana gives Firefighters the Opportunity to Train for the Building Before the Alarm

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, UNITED STATES, September 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Misfits Fire Training Foundation, in association with Firefighter Air and Brownsburg Fire Territory, will host "Dominate the Commercial Fireground", an intensive hands-on training program designed to prepare firefighters for the hazards, tactics, and operational challenges associated with large-scale commercial structures. Firefighters may attend either September 8 or September 9, with the same training delivered each day.

Training will begin at the Brownsburg Fire Territory Training Center with three hours of classroom instruction before participants transition to the Harper Collins Brownsburg facility, a 1.65 million-square-foot structure currently under construction, for hands-on operations.

According to public announcements from the State of Indiana, major logistics and distribution projects announced in 2026 include John Deere's $125 million, 1.2 million-square-foot distribution center in northwest Indiana and Boston Scientific's $138 million, 500,000-square-foot global distribution operation in Plainfield, highlighting the growing need for firefighters and fire departments to understand the tactics, hazards, and operational considerations unique to today's large commercial and distribution facilities.

HarperCollins Creates a Rare Training Opportunity

“HarperCollins is pleased to give firefighters access to our Brownsburg facility and to support the important training programs led by Misfits Fire Training Foundation and Firefighter Air. Their dedication to preparing firefighters for the toughest conditions is something we're proud to stand behind, and we’re grateful for the first responders who dedicate themselves to keeping our communities safe,” said Thomas Wakefield, Vice President of Warehouse Operations at HarperCollins Publishers.

Jeff Kish, President of the Misfits Training Foundation, said “HarperCollins deserves tremendous credit for allowing firefighters to train in this facility. This opportunity allows us to study the building before we are forced to make high-risk decisions during an emergency. It reinforces a lesson firefighters know all too well: understanding a building before the emergency occurs is far more effective than learning its challenges in the middle of a response.”

Large commercial structures present significant challenges during a fire, including long travel distances, complex hose layouts, limited visibility, and substantial demands on personnel and resources. When firefighters enter a building they already understand, they can focus immediately on search, rescue, fire control, and property conservation rather than spending valuable time trying to orient themselves within a complex structure.

The state's continued development of large-scale structures makes this hands-on training opportunity more critical than ever, preparing firefighters to safely and effectively address the complex hazards, operational demands, and unique fireground challenges presented by today's mega-warehouses, distribution centers, and commercial facilities.

Why This Opportunity Is Rare

Most firefighter training takes place in acquired structures, training towers, or simulated environments. Opportunities to conduct hands-on operational training inside a large commercial building during construction are very rare. The unfinished condition allows firefighters to observe building features and construction methods that are normally hidden once the facility becomes operational, helping them better understand how the structure may behave under fire conditions.

Fire departments are not always engaged during the early planning and design phases of large-scale commercial developments. As a result, emergency response strategies and fireground tactics are often developed after construction is substantially complete, when many decisions affecting firefighter access, water supply, firefighter movement and incident response have already been made.

"This is a very rare opportunity that allows firefighters to study a large-scale commercial building before they are forced to make high-risk decisions inside it during an emergency. It reinforces a principle many firefighters understand well: getting involved before a building opens is far better than trying to figure it out after the alarm sounds," said Mike Gagliano, President of Firefighter Air.

This training provides departments throughout Indiana with a practical model for preparing firefighters to respond to the growing number of large-scale commercial and distribution facilities being constructed across the state.

Instructor Captain Clark Lamping

Training will be led by Clark Lamping, a 27-year veteran and 16-year captain with the Clark County (Nev.) Fire Department.

Lamping will be joined by a nationally recognized instructional team, including Captain Jimmy Davis of the Chicago Fire Department, Andy Plofkin of Elkhart Brass, Battalion Chief Kyle Smith of Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services, Georgia, Chris Sleigher, Ed Collett, and Adam Vanderfeyst of the Detroit Fire Department.

“Big-box fires become major problems when firefighters fail to recognize the complex and hazardous environment these structures can create,” said Lamping. “The goal for this training is straightforward: give firefighters the knowledge, tools, and hands-on experience needed to operate when the fireground is large, complex, and changing faster than the plan.”

Registration

Registration is intentionally limited to maximize hands-on participation and instructor engagement. Participants will have the opportunity to work directly with Clark Lamping and the instructor cadre throughout the practical training sessions, allowing for meaningful discussion, coaching, and evaluation of tactics in real-world commercial fireground scenarios.

Train for the building before the alarm. Registration is limited to maximize hands-on participation and instructor engagement. Firefighters may choose either September 8 or September 9.

Register today at https://bit.ly/4qrEHZ7.

Event Details
Event: Dominate the Commercial Fireground
Dates: Select September 8 or September 9, 2026
Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
Classroom: Brownsburg Fire Department Training Facility
Hands-On Training: HarperCollins Brownsburg Facility
Registration: $100 per day
Lead Instructor: Clark Lamping, Clark County (Nev.) Fire Department

About Misfits Fire Training Foundation
Misfits Fire Training Foundation organizes practical, firefighter-focused training opportunities designed to strengthen operational skills and prepare emergency responders for the conditions they may encounter on the fireground.

About Firefighter Air
Firefighter Air advocates for firefighter air safety through education, training, and awareness focused on air management strategies, air-resupply tactics, and technologies that help preserve the interior fire attack. As warehouses, distribution centers, and other large-area commercial structures continue to grow in scale and complexity, Firefighter Air provides firefighters with the training, education, and resources needed to manage air supply and sustain operational effectiveness in today's largest and most demanding structures.

Shawn Longerich
Firefighter Air Coalition
+1 317-690-2542
shawn.longerich@aircoalition.org
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