Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Firefighters hone skills in old house

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Fire crews from throughout the Wood River Valley converged on this old Glendale Road home last Saturday for a day of intentionally setting fires and practicing snuffing them out. Photo by Willy Cook

There are only a handful of opportunities each year, so when it happens, local firefighters attend en masse.

Firefighters descended on Glendale Road south of Bellevue Saturday morning to hone their skills snuffing eight intentionally set fires in an old home that had been offered for destruction.

"These are great exercises for getting all the departments to work together," said Wood River Fire & Rescue firefighter Matt Lutz. "It builds camaraderie and trust, which is good because we all have to work together."

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Lutz explained that fire fuels are removed from the home except for the floors and façade. Gypsum board is placed around fires to contain them. Fires are started with straw and pallets using a weed burner.

"So we have to do a lot of prep work so we can contain the fires without losing it," Lutz said.

In a typical fire, Lutz explained there are three primary priorities: life safety first, then property conservation and, finally, protection of nearby structures.

"In a small valley here we don't get a lot of fires," Lutz said, "so, these things are invaluable.

"We don't want to see valued properties and lives lost, but we do enjoy the hunt, or the chase, to put the fire out. I'll put it this way: We don't hear too many people complain when they go to fires."