Executive Summary
- Warrenton Fire Department conducted a live-fire training exercise using a donated residential structure.
- 27 students from across Oregon participated to practice fire suppression and forensic investigation techniques.
- The drill simulated various scenarios, including appliance malfunctions and arson, to test investigator analysis.
- Officials cited a significant historical drop in structure fire frequency as the primary driver for the need for simulated combat experience.
WARRENTON, Ore. — The Warrenton Fire Department, in conjunction with regional agencies, executed a controlled live-fire exercise this week, intentionally igniting an abandoned residence to simulate structural fire suppression and arson investigation scenarios. The operation, which utilized a structure donated by local residents Bruce and Dana Holt, aimed to provide critical field experience for both rookie firefighters and forensic investigators.
According to department officials, the exercise involved 27 students, including 13 from Clatsop County and 14 from other regions across Oregon. The training was designed to address a gap in practical experience caused by a significant reduction in actual structure fires over recent decades. Oregon State Fire Marshal Chris Dugan, an instructor for the class, noted that while Seaside fire services responded to structure fires monthly in 1989, current statistics for Clatsop County indicate a frequency of approximately one incident per month for the entire region.
The donated home was divided into seven distinct “sets” to replicate specific fire origins, including dryer malfunctions, negligence involving tobacco products, and deliberate acts of arson. Warrenton Division Chief Scott Watson, who oversees training operations, stated that the controlled environment allowed personnel to observe fire development and smoke behavior before engaging in suppression efforts. Following the extinguishment of the flames, investigation students examined the debris to determine the cause of each ignition.
Warrenton Fire Chief Brian Alsbury highlighted the operational necessity of the drill, noting that a majority of newer personnel had not yet encountered a live structure fire. “The majority of the green people in the department hadn’t had that experience,” Alsbury said, emphasizing the value of the training for departmental readiness. On Friday, students utilized the burned sets to practice forensic analysis, with Dugan noting that certain scenarios, such as a torch utilized on a couch, presented complex challenges due to the depth of the burn.
Operational Training Outlook
This exercise underscores a shifting paradigm in public safety training, where the success of modern fire prevention codes has paradoxically reduced the on-the-job training opportunities available to emergency responders. As actual structure fires become less frequent due to improved building standards and safety education, fire departments are increasingly reliant on donated structures and rigorous simulation to maintain operational readiness. For forensic investigators, these controlled scenarios are essential for calibrating the ability to distinguish between accidental accelerants and malicious arson in a setting where ground truth is known, ensuring the integrity of future judicial proceedings involving fire-related crimes.
