Coopersburg Fire Company Runs Fire Simulation Dec. 11

It's very dark inside the abandoned building at Tilghman and Main in Coopersburg. Bad for reporters, great for fire simulation. "Simulations mimic the real thing, and in the real thing, you probably don't have power." said Edward Daniel, captain of Coopersburg Fire Company. Eight companies from nine municipalities are competing, including Emmaus, Lower Milford, Companies 17 and 18 from Quakertown, Richlandtown, Lehigh Township, Trumbauersville Company 58,  and companies 57 and 75 from Milford Township. The trial will simulate both a commercial and residential fire. "It's taken a long time to set up," said Daniel. "Chief (Kevin Farnish) and I have been getting ready for a while. The preparation includes latched windows in each room to let smoke out in case of an emergency.

The trials are not open to the public, but here's a quick look at inside the competition area: