Murphy Little remained of the house at 1330 Andrews Road on Saturday afternoon.
The structure was donated by Wells & West Commercial Properties to train fire department personnel and students interested in fighting fires. Each room in the single-story house provided an opportunity for local firefighters and students enrolled in Tri-County Community College’s Fire Training Class to learn about firefighting or hone their existing skills.
Simulated searches were done from room to room, as if looking for a person. Tools were used as they would be in a real-life situation.
“It was the most realistic training experience with smoke and heat,” Murphy Fire Chief Al Lovingood said. The burn, which was scheduled a couple of months ago, coincided with the lifting of a statewide burn ban.
Later in the day’s training, the house was allowed to burn, giving participating members an opportunity to fight the flames with water.
Flames and heavy smoke billowed from the windows. The yard was cluttered with multiple water-charged hose lines, water bottles and firefighting gear.
Participants endured a hot day. At times, the smoke was so thick that it engulfed those fighting the fire.
Nearby woods across Wells Connector Road unintentionally caught fire during the exercise. Fortunately, there were plenty of firefighters present to deal with that situation.
Traffic was blocked on Wells Connector Road and on one lane of Andrews Road while firefighters dealt with the woods fire.
Safety guidelines for the structure to be burned were in place by the N.C. Fire & Rescue Commission, N.C. Division of Air Quality and Office of the State Fire Marshal, Lovingood said.