Cheney Fire training burn: About as close to the real thing as it gets

The Cheney Fire Department completed a training burn Saturday, Oct. 16 at the former Droop's Dawgs

restaurant at 28 First St.

The story in photos by BECKY THOMAS

Staff Reporter

Left row from top:

Firefighters receive their marching orders around 9 a.m. They split into groups of three to four to put out several small fires set in the building.

City staff members were invited to participate in the training to gain knowledge about firefighting in Cheney. Human resources director Mark Schuller (center, on knees) and finance director Cindy Niemeier (right, on knees) wear masks to simulate low visibility while they search for a fallen crew member.

A crew member monitors the beginnings of a fire from the north side.

Lt. Tim Steiner answers questions from a crowd that gathered to watch.

Right from top:

A crew member fills a harness with an oxygen tank for firefighters getting ready to enter the fire. The gear weighs around 30 pounds.

After crews fought small fires inside the building, they pulled out and let the fire take over, spraying the adjacent building to keep it cool. One crew member sloshes through water pooled in the parking lot.

Crews control hoses from J Street while the fire burns. One hose was dedicated to spraying the adjacent power line, which was just feet from the building.

Two firefighters push a wall into the fire. Most of the structure was destroyed by noon and almost all Cheney firefighters had completed their required yearly training burn. The debris was removed Monday.