On Tuesday March 31, 2026, EJFR will be undertaking live fire training at an abandoned home on Umatilla Road, between San Juan Avenue and Silver Street. Earlier this year, the property owner approached EJFR about a planned demolition of the structure and offered the structure for destructive training for our firefighters. Together with the property owner, EJFR completed and analysis and review of the structure for a training burn.
EJFR recognizes the potential impact on the community of a planned burning of a structure within the city limits; however, the benefits and outcomes of this training opportunity will lead to more effective and well-trained emergency responses in the case of unplanned fires. Structure fires are relatively infrequent in the district; however, the risk of property damage, injury, and death are high in these events. The importance of proper training to mitigate those risks is critical.
Here are answers to questions you may have about this event:
How did the property owner donate the property?
The property owner reached out to EJFR following a recommendation from his demolition contractor. Necessary permitting and actions in alignment with Olympic Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) requirements and City of Port Townsend Demolition Permitting were all competed. The requirements include testing and abatement of any hazardous materials, disconnection of all utilities, and removal of remaining appliances, furniture, room contents, and carpeting.
How often does EJFR do live fire training?
Firefighters are required to maintain live fire training credentialing every three years per National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications and WAC 296-305 Safety Standards for Firefighters. EJFR typically utilizes our Fire Training Center at Station 2 on Jacob Miller Road in Port Townsend for annual training for one of three rotating shifts each year. Our training center is equipped with metal shipping containers where small fires are used to reinforce hose deployment and fire suppression technique training. These containers are durable, but do not reflect a standard home or business structure very well.
How is this different than doing live fire training at Station 2?
The benefit of doing live fire training in an acquired structure like this is that it provides an unfamiliar, but typical, residential configuration where more complex training opportunities including search and rescue, firefighter safety and recovery, smoke control and ventilation techniques, breaching of wall and doors, and analysis of fire and smoke flow patterns are possible. These opportunities do not present themselves in the fire training center configuration.
Secondly, the level of control of the environment allows for focus on repetitive, technical training by multiple teams and reduced exposure to toxic chemicals released by burning of modern interior furnishings. True structure fires do not allow for such repetition and have significant toxic exposures.
What are the standards being followed for this event?
EJFR complies with NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions, Acquired Structures (Chapter 5), WAC 296-305 (Safety Standards for Firefighters), and ORCAA permitting requirements.
What type of structure is being burned?
According to Jefferson County records, the structure was built in 1936 and is a wood framed, single story building with a daylight basement. The building is no longer a safe structure for human habitation.
Have the proper permits for demolition been filed?
Yes, the property owner has applied for and received an approved City of Port Townsend demolition permit and an approved ORCAA demolition notification permit.
How has the structure been prepared to mitigate hazardous materials?
Permitting requires that hazardous materials testing be performed prior to demolition. This testing by a qualified contractor found that the textured ceiling in portions of the home contained 3% asbestos, which has been safely abated and removed. No other hazardous materials were identified. The City of Port Townsend permit requires that all propane, liquified petroleum gas, electrical, and other hazards are also removed from the site prior to demolition.
What materials will be burned?
Primarily wood and natural materials, including wood framing, siding, and roofing materials. The primary ignition fuels will be wood pallets placed inside, with controlled ignition from propane torches. Some residual electrical wiring, galvanized steel piping, cellulose insulation, and roofing materials will also be involved. Additionally, due to abandonment and decay, the materials and the structure offer no recycling or reuse value.
What types of training will be done?
Training includes search and rescue, fire hose deployment, incident size up, ground ladder deployments, rapid intervention training (RIT), wall, window, and door breaching, and cutting ventilation holes in walls and roof. The final day will include live fire training with repetitive ignition and suppression of controlled fires in various rooms as well as interpreting interior fire behavior. A final full burn of the structure without suppression will complete the training.
What equipment will be on site?
Apparatus on site will include Tender 6 as the primary water supply source and Tender 4 as backup water supply source. Hose lines from both apparatuses will be used as primary and secondary suppression lines. Both tenders carry 2,500 gallons of water each and will also be connected to nearby fire hydrants. Air 4 which provides rehabilitation and air bottle refill, as well as Aid 5 for medical care and monitoring, will provide necessary support to firefighters. A third-party excavation company will also be on site with heavy equipment to assist with control of the structure as the demolition evolves.
How is the structure being made safe for firefighters?
EJFR has prepared an Incident Action Plan (IAP) that includes an overall site safety plan. An Incident Safety Officer is assigned to oversee all safety throughout the training. Part of the safety plan is establishing and identifying emergency escape access, adhering to a strict communications plan, and reinforcing constant situational awareness for all participants.
How will water runoff be controlled?
Since this is a destructive training burn, there will be limited water use for extinguishment, so little water runoff is anticipated. We estimate only 250-500 gallons of water will be discharged over the course of the day.
How will smoke be managed?
Efforts will be made to limit public exposure to smoke during the burning through strategic ventilation points that direct heat and smoke to rise vertically. Weather conditions will ultimately decide how the smoke carries beyond the structure. Heavy equipment will compress the unburned portions of the structure into the burning portions to keep the fire hot, resulting in efficient rise of the smoke.
EJFR is especially aware of the impact of smoke to residents, particularly to those with health issues. This will be a short-term event that provides long-term fire safety benefits for the community, and we are asking for your understanding. We recommend that residents who are sensitive follow standard guidelines as recommended by the Washington State Department of Health including:
- Close doors and windows to reduce interior smoke intrusion.
- Run central air system systems that offer filtering.
- Avoid outdoor work or exercise if smoke is present.
- Wear an N95 mask if smoke is present.
- Consider running errands or leaving the direct for the afternoon.
Further information about reducing smoke exposure can be found at the Department of Health website.
What are the requirements for weather conditions?
We are monitoring the forecast over the next ten days and will assess the weather conditions on the day of the training burn. If there are sustained winds of 10 mph for more than 30 minutes, a temperature above 80 degrees F, and relative humidity less than 40%, then the full burn will be cancelled.
Will this be rescheduled if weather does not allow?
EJFR has a limited window of opportunity to perform this training opportunity. Due to the complexity of staffing this event and the likelihood of warmer and drier weather conditions in the future, we are unlikely to reschedule. In this case, the property owner would complete demolition mechanically.
How will nearby vegetation and structures be protected?
As part of the IAP, EJFR will have several staffed hose lines in place to control any embers that may travel outside the fire scene. With expected favorable weather conditions and a temperate climate, we do not anticipate ember travel.
Can EJFR respond to other emergencies when this event is occurring?
This training event will not disrupt our normal daily staffing and commitment of responding to 911 emergencies. All EJFR stations will remain staffed at full capacity. Personnel assigned to the training event are not on shift that day.
How does training like this help our insurance rating?
The Washington Survey and Ratings Bureau (WSRB) requires over 200 hours of fire training annually for firefighters. This event supports meeting those requirements and we receive additional points for live fire training. EJFR continues to enhance equipment, training, and public education to continue improving our insurance rating and home insurance premiums.
What is the schedule for training?
EJFR crews will be participating in different forms of training that do not include fires through March 30th.
On March 31st, the day of the full burn, staging of equipment and personnel will begin at 8:00am. Safety walkthroughs will begin around 9:30am, with training exercises to begin around 10:00am. Four teams will train on extinguishing small, controlled fires in individual rooms over the course of about three hours. Teams will rotate through primary suppression, secondary back up, firefighter rescue, and rehabilitation. This rotation is meant to ensure sufficient training opportunities and maintaining firefighter safety.
Once these rotations have been completed, the equipment and personnel will be repositioned for the full burning of the structure. Firefighters will be placed around the perimeter of the structure to protect nearby vegetation and neighboring properties. The anticipated window for the full burn is between 1:00pm and 5:00p. The peak time of the full burn should last 20 to 30 minutes. Equipment and personnel should be clear of the scene by 6:00pm. On duty personnel will perform checks for reignition throughout the night.
What happens to the property and structure after the burn?
With heavy equipment already on site, the property owner will likely begin removing remaining materials within a few days. The agreement calls for removal within 30 days.
Can the public come watch?
For public safety and firefighter safety, the public will not be allowed to come into the protected area. A section of Umatilla Road will be closed to through traffic during the event and the public will not be allowed inside the area.
Who do I call if I still have questions?
If you still have questions, call EJFR at (360) 385-2626.