No need for alarm. Smoke coming from the abandoned building on West Henry Street on Tuesday was fake, part of a hands-on training session for the city's firefighters.
Bogner Construction Co. owns the building and granted permission to the Wooster Fire Department to use it for training before it is razed, according to Fire Chief Barry Saley. The smoke seen through the windows was generated by a smoke machine.
"Live fire training was not conducted, as that requires significantly more red tape," Saley said in an email.
Hands-on training in the two-story structure will continue for the near future. Training topics include strategy and tactics for the initial incident commander, engine company operations, search and rescue techniques, rapid intervention techniques, bailout techniques, and ground and aerial ladder operations.