PORT ANGELES — A vacant barn on Black Diamond Road will burn Saturday — but it won’t be an emergency.
The blaze is a planned practice burn to allow firefighters with Clallam County Fire District No. 2 and other area fire districts to put their skills to the test.
The barn in the 600 block of Black Diamond Road south of Port Angeles is being removed at the request of the property owner who wants to build a new home on the site, said Chief Sam Phillips of Fire District No. 2.
Firefighters will arrive at 9 a.m. after a safety briefing then begin firing at about 10 a.m., Phillips said.
He expects the burn to be extinguished by about 3 p.m.
Residents are asked to watch for fire vehicles driving on Black Diamond Road between South Pine Street and Reservoir Road.
Training
Firefighters will focus on interior fire attack tactics, search and rescue of trapped victims, ventilation techniques aimed at removal of smoke and toxic gases, mobile water supply operations (bringing water from distant hydrants to portable tanks), incident command as well as firefighter safety and survival strategies, Phillips said.
In addition, communications officers from PenCom will participate to refine communication techniques.
Prior to the burn an extensive inspection of the building for contaminants such as asbestos was conducted and a permit was obtained through the Olympic Region Clean Air Authority.
Safety of neighbors
Safety of the nearby homes is also being addressed by firefighters in advance of the burn, Phillips said.
“We go through a lengthy planning process that incorporates a 15-to-20-page safety action plan,” he said.
Fire officials plan on taking advantage of the cooler weather that is forecast and also want the training burn to take place as close to fire season as possible while complying with the annual burn ban that is expected to go into effect July 1.
Barn fires are common at certain times of the year, especially when new hay is cut, baled and stored, Phillips said.
On occasion, hay bales will spontaneously ignite if the hay was not fully cured in the field prior to baling and storage inside, he added.