Photo by Sarah Marquet.
Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade members got some
valuable training in fighting a big fire yesterday as a house
went up in flames - all part of a brigade plan.
Trainee Nathan Mawhinney (17) is pictured keeping an eye on
the blaze as other brigade members search the burning house
for fake bodies.
Slideshow: Alexandra house fire exercise
Chief Fire Officer Russell Anderson said controlled fires
were lit then put out throughout the house during the day
before the "grand finale" when they "let it go".
While it was a physically exhausting day for the
firefighters, it was a "great" training exercise in search
and rescue as well as how to fight house fires.
Three members of the Cromwell volunteer brigade joined the
Alexandra firefighters for the exercise under the watchful
eyes of two trainers from Dunedin.
Sue Philips, who owned the Walton St house, said it was sad
to see it burn but it had to go to make way for a proposed
subdivision.
During the exercise, the house was virtually burned to the
ground and what was left - some bricks, concrete and the
chimney - would be removed by a digger and truck today, Mr
Anderson said.
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