The 10th Street live burn will be the first time that the SPFD has set - and then extinguished - a structure fire in years. “The last burn was at least two years ago at Isbell Middle School,” where obsolete classrooms were burned as a SPFD exercise that also made way for the new John Divine Gymnasium.Because the August 27 burn centers on 10th Street, it must be conducted mid-week, Araiza said. “We’ll shoot for the morning, after the first wave of traffic has passed by, and then finish before the afternoon traffic” takes to the road.Passersby won’t see too much action: “We’ll be doing most of operations from the alleyway” behind the house, owned by Florence Elwell, who donated it to the city for the firefighting exercise. Araiza said that Elwell had to obtain demolition permits, and will be responsible for the cleanup after the burn.“The Santa Paula Fire Department really thanks her for this,” especially since the house “doesn’t have much of a foundation and it’s leaning right now,” making it ripe for beneficial destruction.
Fire Department exercise: Fully involved structure fire will not be a matter of alarm
August 08, 2007
Santa Paula News
A fully involved structure fire will not be a matter of alarm later in August, when the Santa Paula Fire Department exercises the rare opportunity to conduct a live burn exercise/training session.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA fully involved structure fire will not be a matter of alarm later in August, when the Santa Paula Fire Department exercises the rare opportunity to conduct a live burn exercise/training session. Fire Chief Rick Araiza said that the exercise will take place on August 27 on the east side of South 10th Street, just below Main Street.“We have enough clearance” around the aging residence to conduct the live burn, giving SPFD firefighters the opportunity to exercise or train in roof operations and simulated rescues.The SPFD will also do another exercise at a second property scheduled for demolition, located at Ventura and Ojai streets, “where we’ll be breaching walls” and other training not involving live fire, due to the density of the neighborhood. “It’s the property where Habitat for Humanity is going to build some units, and it’s so close to other structures, so big, we’re not going to burn it,” said Araiza.
