Controlled burn provides invaluable, real-life training

by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor

There is no price tag that can be put on the value of a fire training exercise.

 

If it helps local volunteer firefighters save a life from a burning structure —  to steal a word from the famous Master Card commercials — that would be “priceless.”

Local firefighters burned down a vacant structure along South Third to conduct a drill that could be a real life situation they could face some day.

The structure was acquired by the city from a tax foreclosure proceeding and taking part in the exercise were members of the Onaway, Forest-Waverly and Ocqueoc-Bearinger fire departments.

For some firefighters, it was the first time they had ever been in that kind of situation.

The street was closed at the nearest intersections and firefighters began their drills on what was a windy Friday night and adding another ingredient of reality to the exercise.

Those involved took their places around the one-story structure to ensure a safe burn.

Different groups gathered in front of the front door of the old wooden home and planned out the different steps of the drill. They went in one-by-one to conduct the mock search, surrounded mostly by smoke.

“We had a sweep through the house,” said Onaway Fire Department chief Roger Nash of the search and rescue drill.

The live exercise also was a golden opportunity to try out new self-contained breathing apparatus obtained through a $132,000 FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) grant. They received 12 new air packs, miscellaneous gear, as well as a filling station. They had to provide a five percent match, which came from the department’s budget. The grant was awarded10 months ago and they’ve only had the gear for a few months.

“This was the first training where we could actually use it,” said Nash.

OFD and Forest Waverly had about a dozen firefighters involved, while Ocqueoc-Bearinger members there

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Once the training was complete, they left the fire go, keeping it contained inside the structure, although some spectacular flames could be seen shooting out windows and through a vent hole in the roof.

The smoke rolled across nearby State/M-68, and the heat was intense from the all-wood structure.

The structure was literally burned to the ground. All that was left were ashes, an old water heater and a crumbled up metal that could have been the furnace.

It was deemed a success; however, the real rewards could be reaped some day in the future.