Today, TVF&R firefighter recruits had the opportunity to gain valuable experience practicing fire engine operations, building entry and search techniques, and fire behavior training in a live fire environment.

The home that was used for today’s exercises was donated by Habitat for Humanity and located on SW Denney Rd. in Beaverton between Hwy. 217 and SW Scholls Ferry. Habitat plans to start construction there in 2016. When fully built, the neighborhood will have 16 homes with potentially 90 residents.

During the day-long series of exercises, training officers set fires in different rooms of the 3,000 square foot house, allowing firefighters to enter the home and extinguish them. At the end of the day, firefighters set a final "terminal burn" and the home was allowed to burn to the ground.

"This was a great opportunity for our newest firefighters to experience the deadly heat and toxic smoke of a house fire in a controlled environment," says TVF&R Training Officer Matt Laas. "Although TVF&R firefighters frequently train with live fire in specially designed training props at our Training Center, the opportunity to gain experience on a fire in a real home is invaluable."

"We are so excited to be partnering with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue to provide training resources for their firefighters while removing an uninhabitable home as we prepare to help 16 families improve their futures," commented Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Mark Forker.