Training day

Dave has been a volunteer fireman since 1977.
Then there was this house. A house with dodgy foundations the owners were trying to sell. Everytime a prospective purchaser got an engineers report they would lose interest in buying. Owners could not sell.
So they offered the house to the authorities. First the police used it for hostage. Then anti terrorist used it. Then the fire service used it as a training exercise.

So we drive out 10km into the country looking for no 1502. We arrive get shown to a parking spot. Maybe 100 people already there. Families. Dads explaining to their kids. Mums standing back a little.

"Reverse in please"
"There are two rules today, stay behind that fence,  and dont breathe the smoke"

House is mildly smoking when we arrive at 2pm. All day they have been starting fires in room by room using different techniques and equipment to put them out. Giving the newbies some practice.

Then the news we have all been waiting for.  Now the whole house was to go up. 20 sofas are inside. The fireman all seem to be milling around for ages but then we see a flame inside and within 5 mins thw house is beyond saving...of course now the aim is raze to the ground. 

Heat was pretty intense

By the time we left we could see the brick chimney. Dust and bits were raining down on the car.

Then we were off to Manurewa to stay with my dads best mans widow. Christine 

Xxx