FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Fayetteville Fire Department has entered into an agreement with the University of Arkansas to hold firefighter training classes this month in the building that once housed the geology department on campus. The training exercises are scheduled for Wednesday, July 6, Saturday, July 9, and Tuesday, July 12, with some other dates possible as well. People in the area will see the fire trucks, and may see smoke coming from the building, but there is no danger, no fire involved in the training, and no threat to public safety.

The vacant building, located on Dickson Street, immediately east of the Greek Theatre, was most recently used to house student labs for the geology and anthropology departments.

The fire department training will not involve burning the building. On July 6 it will be used for basic interior training. On the other dates it will be used for “smoke training,” that is, smoke will be pumped into the building to simulate conditions firefighters might have to deal with during a fire.

“The smoke is generated by machines, using a banana-oil-based liquid,” said Capt. Rick McCurdy, who is supervising the training. “It creates a thick, non-toxic smoke. The officers will be wearing full gear and breathing apparatus, just like in a real fire, but the smoke itself is completely harmless. If any of it gets out of the building people may notice that it smells like bananas.”

“The Fayetteville fire chief approached us about using the building while it is vacant this summer,” said Mike Johnson, associate vice chancellor of facilities. “They needed a place to conduct important training, and we agreed that the building would meet those needs. We are glad the building can be useful in its final days.”

The Geology Building was constructed in 1947 as a joint project with the U.S. military. It was known as the Ordark Building, short for Army Ordinance-Arkansas, and was used to conduct chemical, physical and engineering research under military supervision until 1958. It was turned over to the University of Arkansas geology department in 1958 and was remodeled and modernized in the early 1990s.

The building is scheduled to be demolished along with the Science Engineering Auditorium, directly north of it. Both buildings are in poor condition and can’t be economically renovated. The demolition plan for the Geology Building was coordinated with the state historic preservation office. The two buildings will be replaced by the multi-level Hillside Auditorium, which will holding two auditoriums of approx 490 seats and 286 seats, and feature a living “green” roof.