The Grand Rapids City Council held a regular meeting at Grand Rapids City Hall on Monday.Â
During the meeting, Mayor Dale Christy proclaimed that the City of Grand Rapids will celebrate âPurple-Up for Military Kidsâ on Thursday, April 15. Purple Up is a day for communities to wear purple in a show of support for military children. The month of April is officially known as the month of the military child.Â
Members of the community are invited to the Grand Rapids Armory to take a photo commemorating the event at 4 p.m. Community members in attendance are asked to wear purple to thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. The Armory is located at 930 NE First Avenue in Grand Rapids.Â
Smoke filled the air as a Blackberry Township house burned to the ground on Tuesday, but there was no need to call 911.
The house, located at 27213 County Road 91, was donated to the Grand Rapids Fire Department, and used in a live burn training exercise.
Live burn training presents a rare opportunity for the fire department to practice fire suppression techniques in a controlled environment. Fire Chief Travis Cole said live burns are the most realistic training scenario his department can participate in.
âTheyâre a great asset and very valuable when we can get them,â Cole said
These training exercises only occur when a house or structure is donated to the department for burning. When a house is donated, hazardous materials are removed from the structure and proper permits are secured from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources.