Burnin’ down the house: Firefighters participate in training burn
By Brandi Makuski
CUSTER — Firefighters from multiple departments participated in a training burn on Sept. 21 at 4337 County Rd. Y in Custer.
Greg Michaelkamp of the Rosholt Fire Department said the property owners planned to demolish the house to build a new one.
“This was a great opportunity for us to practice our skills in a controlled environment,” Michaelkamp said. With no hydrants in the area, firefighters hauled water to the site and deposited it into drop tanks. Between 40 and 50 firefighters from three counties were involved in the event.
Training burns are rare because they require a privately owned residence to be donated for the event. But they are so sought after because they give firefighters of all experience levels a chance to observe fire behavior outside the context of an emergency—and under the watchful eye of fire instructors, Michaelkamp said.
Dewey Fire Chief Brian Lepper said the burn required “months and months” of planning. About two weeks before the event, a walkthrough revealed extensive mold on the north side of the home, which made it difficult to burn that portion of the building. Firefighters had to use an ignition tool twice to start the fire.
“There’s really no concern about breathing it in because mold dies once the fire hits 160 degrees,” Lepper said.
Sharon First Responders and the Portage Co. Ambulance Service provided rehab services and organized lunch during the event.
Jeremy Spencer, fire chief in Stockton, said the event required collaboration with other departments. “We reached out to several departments to ensure we had enough instructors and safety officers on hand,” Spencer said. “A lot of planning goes into making sure everything is safe and runs smoothly.”
Departments from across the county, including Stevens Point, Plover, Hull, Iola, Grand Rapids, Dewey, and Mosinee, participated. David Briggs, a Marathon Co. firefighter and owner of Firefighter Training, Development, and Coaching, was also on hand for additional support.