Pender County EMS & Fire led a live fire training house burn on Saturday to help firefighters practice hands-on skills.
“We are able to put the rookies and more inexperienced firefighters with our lieutenants and more experienced firefighters into this training atmosphere” said David Bullard, Battalion Chief of Pender EMS & Fire.
Repeatedly setting the house on fire and putting out the flames, the firefighters practiced hose advancement, nozzle control, water control, ladder skills, and more.
Homeowners donated the house located on Mallard Bay Road in Hampstead, NC for the live training burn after realizing the house would cost too much money to renovate.
Tim Wright, a lieutenant with Pender EMS & Fire, said live burn training is one of the best ways to simulate a real emergency situation.
“It’s a practice burn for us, so we get to go in and experience the heat from the fire,” said Wright. “Put water on the fire so the newer guys can learn how it goes. As a lieutenant, I go in with my firemen, and I’m actually backing him up so he can get some nozzle time and learn how it goes inside with a structure fire.”