In all our experience with firefighters, we've learned what type of training they really need, and we provide it for them. Recently, members of the Chicago Fire Department attended the school. The NI-Gas industrial fire school was started after a number of industrial firms inquired about sending their employees for training. As a result, Skinner conducted a survey about three years ago to find out whether a fire training program for industry was feasible. Industrial fire training began in 1991.
Participants experience both simple and complex fires typical in many industrial sites.
Today, Gray's son, Craig, also serves as a NI-Gas fire school instructor, in addition to working with his father in the family business. Ill. Other instructors are Kyle Simpson, Nick Shank, George Bonner, Duane Kelley, Gary Lechner and Kurt Rockroth. All instructors participate in each day-long session. The first session Farruggia attended was the one for firefighters. Following an introduction and slide presentation by Skinner, Farruggia and the other trainees were instructed on the use of cartridge-operated extinguishers.