Reports of fire turned out to be firefighter training

Clay Center Dispatch – November 5, 2013

What many thought was a small fire on Dexter Street late Monday afternoon and early evening was actually just training.

City firefighters conducted training at an empty house at 923 Dexter St., next to St. Paul Lutheran Church, by smoking up the house and doing drills, said Clay Center Fire Chief John Ihnen.

The empty house has not been occupied for some time, according to neighbors.

Witnesses reported to The Dispatch they saw “flames shooting out the roof” and fire was still smoldering at about 5 p.m. Monday.

But it was all a ruse designed to prepare firefighters for the real thing.

Ihnen said firefighters will conduct similar training at the house in a couple of weeks.

It’s not unprecedented, firefighters do this sort of training on a regular basis, but it’s probably the first time it’ been mistaken for the real thing.

The 1,386 square-foot house with two bedrooms, one bathroom was built in 1890, according to real estate records of the property.

It’s appraised value is $67,750, according to the 2013 Clay County Appraisal Guide.