Updated: Fire Department Structure Burn Set for June 18

The Corvallis Fire Department is planning to conduct a day-long training on Monday, June 18 that will include a controlled structure burn of a city-owned property west of Corvallis, near Bald Hill Natural Area. Visitors to Bald Hill, as well as community members in neighborhoods west of 53rd Avenue, may notice smoke as the controlled burn gets underway, but Fire Department officials note that there will be no danger to the public.

Planning for this training event began last November. The property in question is a city-owned home adjacent to the Baldy Reservoir that has been declared surplus and thus presented an excellent opportunity for Fire Department training.

Acquired structure burns require careful preparation of the property to ensure safety for the firefighters while maximizing the training and educational value. Planners intend to use the exercise to test a variety of important techniques, including structure entry, pump and hose operations, and personal decontamination after the event.

“Opportunities like this don’t come along very often, so we’re really looking forward to gaining some valuable experience, particularly for our newer firefighters,” said Training Division Chief Douglas Baily. “This event has been planned down to the last detail to ensure the safety of our firefighters, as well as the general public.”

The training has been planned in accordance with the National Fire Prevention Association’s “Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions,” which sets guidelines for exercises.

Events such as this are particularly important for the Corvallis Fire Department, which is a relatively young organization. About one-third of CFD’s firefighters have been with the department for less than three years.

For more information on the Corvallis Fire Department, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/fire.