Burning down the house in Mabel St

Firefighters gain valuable practice

Fire and Emergency New Zealand conducted a series of controlled structure fires on Mabel Street In Levin last week, climaxing with the midafternoon burning of the 1948-built house.

FENZ senior station officer Chris Kennedy said the exercise it provided invaluable training for FENZ staff. It enabled new techniques to be tried in a controlled situation.

A series of small fires were lit and extinguished in the morning by FENZ crews as part of the exercise. Light westerly winds blew smoke in the direction of houses across the road for a short time.

Nearby residents had been advised to close windows and stay clear of the area. The house was on the south-eastern corner of a large empty section currently tagged for subdivision, with 43 lots already on the market. Plans showed modern twostorey homes.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand getting ready to burn down 18 Mabel Street in Levin as part of a series of controlled exercises.

The Mabel Street home being burnt by FENZ in a controlled fire.

The Mabel Street house was well ablaze by 1.30pm.

FENZ staff preparing for controlled fires.