By Sharla Steinman
Loveland Reporter-Herald
LOVELAND, Colo. — The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority was presented with the unique opportunity to train in a donated home throughout the last few months. Their training culminated with a full home burn Friday that will leave the space almost ready for the landowners to build their new life.
“Why not have some people hopefully save lives by training?” said Alexis Boonstra, who, along with her husband, Stephen, donated the 122-year-old home located near Fourth Street and St. Louis Avenue to the fire department in February. “When you go in (the donated house), the foundation was bad, and (we) didn’t really want to… bring somebody in in that condition.”
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Training Battalion Chief Eric Klaas said it was a win-win situation, where the fire department gets to train in a structure that simulates reality, and the homeowners get some help with their demolition.
“I was going to demolish it anyway and then my accountant mentioned the fact that I could get a tax write-off if I donate to the fire department and help them out at the same time,” Stephen said, but his mother-in-law said it was more selfless than he was letting on.
“He’s just very thoughtful in that way,” Tiffany Portinga said, adding that he’s often helping neighbors with yardwork and other tasks.
Alexis’ parents bought the home and the 5-acre plot of land it sits on a few years ago, hoping one day their daughter and her husband would want to conveniently live down the street from them with their three children.
“It was their decision because we were always cautious about having kids too close,” Portinga said with a laugh. “I’m totally excited … but when you push them, they turn around and walk.”
Across the street neighbor, Dawn Mielke said the home was originally bought out of a Sears catalog, which the company stopped doing in 1940. She said she felt bittersweet about the moment, reminiscing on the times she saw her late neighbor near the apple tree that was once in the yard.
“I could just see the two of them sitting there,” she said. “I’m sad, but I’m also happy for the fire department and… we have a beautiful family that’s going to be moving in and building.”
But Mielke, the daughter of a New York firefighter, was brought nearly to tears during the training, thinking about her father’s 60-year career.
“I feel like he’s a part of this too,” Mielke said, gripping her necklace made out of a medallion that her father once wore. “I’ve always admired our fire department and our law enforcement. I know it has just made me more appreciative seeing it right here in my front yard.”
Klaas said the opportunity to train in the house has been invaluable to the department, adding that their training buildings are designed to withstand fire, making them safer and last longer.
“This is a real building with real materials that burn inside of it. It has void spaces. It has an attic. It has places that the fire can get into,” he said. “There’s probably been over 100 firefighters that have come through since we’ve had this property.”
As members of the Loveland and Berthoud fire departments set the home ablaze and smoke billowed through the air, community members watched from their front yards and the Boonstras thought about their future.
A pool, some farm animals, and maybe even a dirt bike path for the kids, Alexis said. “I feel really blessed.”
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