MAPLETON NEWS
by Jennifer Buzza
If you were on the State Road last Wednesday night around 7 p.m., you might have noticed some alarming dark smoke or blaze orange flames in the sky and wondered where it was coming from.
Thankfully, no one was injured and no property was unintentionally lost. Mapleton volunteer firefighters were burning what they refer to as an “acquired structure” for property owners on the State Road.
According to Mapleton Fire Chief Richard Wark, “These structures provide more realistic fire conditions compared to propane or other fire simulators.” Surprisingly, not just any building or structure can be burned. In order for such buildings to qualify, they must be in “good condition.” The floors need to be sound so firefighters can safely enter the building and all contents must be removed by the property owner. Wiring and plumbing can remain intact; however, any fuel tanks must be removed from the site.
The process to have a structure approved for burning takes some time. Fire departments are required to follow a checklist and Standard Code 1403 issued by the National Fire Protection Agency. In addition to submitting a landowner permit to the state forester, the fire department in charge of the burn must have qualified instructors at the scene. Bank records, as well as property tax records, are researched to confirm ownership and assure there are no liens on the property in question. The entire process can take a minimum of two to three months to finalize the paperwork. Wark said the Mapleton Fire Department has had two acquired structure burns in the last month. One of those took over a year to finalize. Selecting a viable date where his staff can attend and suitable weather conditions play huge factors in when the burn can take place.
Removing the property for the owner is only part of the agenda for fire departments. The Mapleton Fire Department uses these structures for “real life” training. Wark says they focus on “fire attack, search and rescue, water supply and structure protection.” In the case with the State Road property, the nearby house was covered in foam to protect it from the heat and flames. “We light practice fires to learn about fire behavior and how fire travels through the structure. Once you see the ‘big’ fire, the training part is over, we are just letting it burn. After the structure is burned down to a ‘manageable’ size, we leave and it’s the responsibility of the landowner to take care of it (the debris).”
The Mapleton Fire Department does not charge to burn these types of structures, but does accept donations to help cover the cost of fuel and supplies. The department carries a roster of 25 firefighters, 12 of whom were present at the controlled burn last week.
If you have a structure you would like to consider donating to the department for a training session, or for more information, contact Wark at 227-3310.
Birthdays
Birthday wishes this week go out to Carole Soucy, Timothy Morrison, Dave Steeves, Andrew Wood, Sean Frederick, Sam Parker, Ina Hoffses, Macey Currier, Alex Christie and Marilee Smith.
Anniversary
Happy anniversary this week to Sid and Marilee Smith on the 28th.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. She can be reached at 760-9115 or by email at jbuzza@ainop.com.
