Firefighters’ final September training burn on Wednesday

By Brandi Makuski

The Plover Fire Department will host a final September training burn on Wednesday.

The PFD, along with firefighters from Hull and Park Ridge, will burn a vacant home at 5572 Porter Dr. near the Bluebird Subdivision on Sept. 30. The firefighters previously burned another structure on the property on Sept. 2, which PRFD Chief Brian Lepper called “a great way to keep our preparedness up.”

Another burn scheduled for Sept. 16 was canceled to due concerns over COVID.

Residents, shoppers at Crossroads Commons, and motorists on nearby I-39 can expect to see black smoke in the area. 

Plover Deputy Fire Chief Ken Voss said the home was donated to the PFD for training purposes. Firefighters from multiple departments have used the home for a number of training exercises for about a year, he said.

“Our plan was to burn it down in May, but with COVID, it got postponed,” Voss said. “I wanted to get maximum use out of the house, so Park Ridge [fire department] has been training there, regularly, Hull [fire department] has used the house, and we’ve used it quite a few times.”

The September training burns were initially designed as an exercise for all Metro Fire units—Stevens Point, Plover, and Hull—but due to COVID, SPFD will not be participating, Voss said.

Fire crews and equipment will be at Porter Dr. property preparing for the burn throughout the afternoon of Sept. 30, but the fire won’t be lit until shortly after 7 p.m.

Anyone with questions or concerns should contact the PFD at 715.345.5310.