CARNELIAN BAY, Calif. – The whine of a chainsaw cut through the quiet as firefighters climbed onto a roof and carved a hole straight through it. Below them, smoke filled the home, visibility dropped to near zero, and crews moved room to room searching for a victim. Within minutes, the Carnelian Bay house was methodically torn apart.
Over the weekend, the North Tahoe Fire Protection District had a rare opportunity to train crews inside a home slated for demolition. Firefighters cycled through a range of realistic scenarios, from rescuing simulated victims to navigating smoke-filled rooms and practicing fire attack techniques.
The training was made possible by homeowners David and Janice Lemak, who offered their property as a hands-on training site before its demolition.
Having previously served on a local fire board in northwest Michigan, Lemak understood the challenge departments face in finding realistic training environments. So, the couple’s decision to give the department free rein over their home was an easy one.
“You can only train in the same structures so many times before you start memorizing them,” Lamak said. “I thought it was perfect. We’re not just tearing the house down and hauling it away — we’re letting it be useful for something.”…