JR Closed Saturday for Fire Dept. Training

The Somers Fire and Rescue Department will be conducting a training burn on Saturday, June 7, at a residence on Highway JR just west of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and just east of the dog park and south entrance of Petrifying Springs Park. The training will begin at 9 a.m. and will extend into the afternoon hours with the culmination being the complete burning of the residence, which once served as a camp for the YMCA and Kenosha Youth Foundation.

The house was acquired by Kenosha County and is being razed to clear more land for Petrifying Springs Park.

As a result of the training exercise, Highway JR will be closed for most of Saturday between the south entrance to the park and the Outer Loop Road at UW-Parkside. Vehicles wanting to access the south end of the park or the dog park area will have to access from Highway JR from the west or from the north park entrance off Highway A. Access to the university will have to be made from Highways E or A.

Motorists and park users should be aware of occasional traffic of large emergency apparatus.

The media is invited to attend the training at any point. Firefighters will be doing interior drills until the final burn, which will occur sometime mid to late afternoon. Any news crews that want to attend are advised to call Lt. Pete Wicklund at (262) 492-0911 to be escorted to the training area. If you are unable to reach him by phone, park at the university or park parking lots and proceed to the training area on the bike path and ask to be directed to him or another department officer.