By Brian Lazenby
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Copyright 2007 Chattanooga Publishing Company
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chattanooga firefighters set a dilapidated house ablaze Friday to allow new cadets the chance to gain experience that usually takes years to acquire, fire officials said.
Chris Adams, Chattanooga Fire Department training chief, said cadets in the fire academy training class conducted exercises at the 1301 Franklin Drive house off East Brainerd Road for two days.
On Thursday, cadets performed offensive rescue operations with small fires set in some of the rooms, and on Friday the class played defense, containing the blaze and protecting surrounding trees from heat that officials said reached more than 1,200 degrees, Chief Adams said.
“It usually takes two years to get as much experience as they got (Thursday and Friday),” he said.
He said the 16 cadets participated in 32 drills Thursday as they rescued 165-pound mannequins from burning rooms.
On Friday, firefighters knocked holes in the walls and ceiling in a process called “swiss cheesing.” The holes were stuffed with straw, paper and other material to help the fire spread.
As flames quickly consumed the interior of the structure, cadets hosed down surrounding trees.
Cadets Anthony Cargle and Aaron Harmon, who both are set to graduate Thursday, looked on as the fire crackled and popped, windows melted and the interior of the house collapsed. They praised the six-month training program and their instructors, who they said teach them everything they will need to know when they respond to their first real fire.
“They make sure you are prepared,” Mr. Harmon said. “They’re not going to send you out here if they don’t think you are ready.”
Mr. Cargle said the training prepares cadets for almost any scenario.
“Every week they prepare you for something different,” he said.
Bruce Spencer and his sister-in-law, Wanda Gross, looked on with tearful eyes as the house burned.
Ms. Gross, who lived in the house for more than 20 years with her late husband, M.C. Gross, said she has many fond memories of the home.
“There were a lot of good family times,” she said.
Mr. Spencer said he remembers many of the parties that were held around the swimming pool now overrun with weeds.
“I can’t tell you how many parties we had at that swimming pool,” he said. "(Mrs. Gross) came out here a while back and it just broke her heart. There was a tree growing out of it.”
Mr. Spencer salvaged a brick from the wall that enclosed the pool.
“It was a showplace in its day,” he said of the home. “It was once featured in a magazine.”
Fire Chief W.G. Rowe praised the cadets who completed their last training exercise before next week’s graduation ceremony.
“This is a good group the citizens of Chattanooga are about to receive,” he said.