MASON, Mich. — Mason firefighters spent all of Saturday going in and out of a vacant building on purpose, putting out 24 fires that their own department set in a live-burn training exercise on the old Eagle View Golf Course property.
The drill took place at 2602 Tomlinson Road. Chief Kerry Minshall said crews of four or five firefighters were sent inside for each fire, practicing structural firefighting and fireground tactics under controlled conditions.
Getting the old building ready took months of work so it would be safe enough for crews to enter during live fire, the chief said.
Nearby drivers faced 12 hours of detours, lasting until 6 p.m. Tomlinson Road was shut between Jewett Road and Service Road, and Service Road was closed from Rolfe Road to Tomlinson. The department had asked neighbors ahead of time not to worry about smoke or a heavy fire engine presence in the area.
With the interior drills done, firefighters let what was left of the structure burn down in the afternoon to close out the day.
Section: More Lansing MI crime news
Filed under: Lansing MI Public Safety News
