The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Comedian George Carlin once quipped, "The term 'fire department' makes it sound like they're the ones who are starting the fires, doesn't it?" Carlin's jest held true Wednesday evening when the Flin Flon Volunteer Fire Department set ablaze an abandoned Ross Street home as part of a training exercise. "The best type of training you can get is an actual, real live fire," said Fire Chief Jim Petrie. As the red-hot flames spouted from the structure, some passing motorists had no idea the fire had been deliberately set. A couple of observers asked this Reminder reporter whether the occupants made it out safely. Once the flames had been doused, one of the firefighters entered the charred home to play the role of a fallen victim whom the others had to quickly carry to safety. "We try to make it as real as possible for the firefighters," said Petrie. The derelict Ross Street home, located at the bottom of Sipple Hill, is owned by the City of Flin Flon. Petrie plans to use the house for at least one more fire practice before it is demolished. The fire chief credited his crew for a "fantastic job" during the practice.6/18/2004
