Firefighters burn to learn

Fifty firefighers participated in a controlled "burn to learn" exercise in Sisters.

Flames poured from the windows and smoke billowed into the sky as an old home burned in Sisters on Monday, November 19.

The only thing missing was the sirens.

That's because there was no emergency. According to Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire Chief Don Rowe, the fire on Adams Street was a "burn to learn," where firefighters got a chance to hone their skills.

"This gives the firefighters, especially the new ones, the experience of fighting a fire in a controlled atmosphere, so we can show them what a fire is doing, and so we can show how to go in and find the seed of a fire and put it out," said Chief Rowe.

Rowe said three departments took part in the training, Sisters/Camp Sherman, Black Butte Ranch and Cloverdale.

Two houses and a garage were put to the torch.

The buildings belonged to Habitat for Humanity. They will be replaced with new Habitat homes in the near future.