Fire fighters conduct live fire test Published March 13, 2007 MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Base fire fighters tested their abilities to contain a small blaze during a live fire in Building 1612 March 12. Limited to a few rooms, the small burn allowed the department to see if they can continue conducting tests there as a lead-in to a full-scale exercise. Samples taken after this week's test will ensure the base complies with environmental standards before they can burn the building on a much larger scale, said Gregory D. Chesser, assistant fire chief for training. "If we're cleared to burn again, then we'll be doing daily fires until April 12," Mr. Chesser added. Located next to the base theater, Bldg. 1612 was scheduled for demolition in the spring, giving the fire department a unique opportunity to provide more realistic fire training for its crews. "We conduct live fires constantly at our training facility, but those fires are in a controlled environment," Mr. Chesser said. "Utilizing an older facility allows our personnel to see how the fire builds and spreads under 'normal' conditions." The age and condition of the building made safety a primary concern. "We took extra measures to ensure the operation met the intent of what we needed to do while ensuring the safety of our folks," Mr. Chesser said. If cleared to proceed with further test burns, the building will allow fire fighters to test their skills in ventilation, search and rescue and forcible entry. "We are very fortunate to have this opportunity and be able to provide this unique training to our fire fighters," Mr. Chesser said. "During the monthly training, we always have to be careful when doing exercises in base facilities. Today, the guys were excited with the chance to break stuff and not get into any trouble."