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Burning it down

About 100 residents turned out Saturday to watch 25 firefighters from Central Mason Fire & EMS and Fire Districts 6 and 17 battle flames inside an old house next to the Shelton Civic Center, and then let it burn to the ground.

The live fire training exercise started at 9 a.m., with fires lit inside the dilapidated house at 218 S. 5th St., and then extinguished. By 1 p.m., the house was engulfed in flames as firefighters watched the structure collapse.

The house was owned by the City of Shelton, which recently declared the structure surplus. It was most recently used for storage, but the roof was leaking and rats had found their way inside.

"This is a rare and great opportunity for CMFE, as it gives us the opportunity to train on fire operations, and fire attack in a real-life scenario," the district wrote in a news release. "This burn also helps reduce costs of demolition for the City of Shelton."

The day before the fire training, members of the Shelton Police Department practiced breaking down the door to get into the house.

During Saturday's drill, shifting winds sent thick smoke through downtown. Spectators barbecued on the sidewalk across the street, while families brought their children to watch.

Author Bio

Gordon Weeks, Reporter

Shelton-Mason County Journal & Belfair Herald

 

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