Alabama Volunteer Fire Company Preparing for Training Exercise.

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Demolition completed.

On March 21, 2009 the local Alabama Fire Department spent all day practicing life saving and structure saving techniques on a refuge house slated to be burned down the following weekend.  Although this house was structurally sound, it no longer met building codes and was considered a safety risk for the USFWS.  It had also been vandalized within past year. The local fire department used this as a training opportunity by using new equipment to cut holes in the roof and siding, practice removal of “residents” and fire fighters and create scenarios that would otherwise be difficult to recreate without a structurally sound building.  On March 28, 2009, the Alabama Fire Department burned the house down and again trained while doing so.  This was a mutually beneficial activity for both the local fire department and the Iroquois NWR.  The footprint of the house and garage will be restored for wildlife habitat.