Fire Rescue News - HOME GUTTED BY FIRE ON CHRISTMAS DAY TURNED INTO TRAINING TOOL

Tuesday, April 12 2011 @ 06:30 am EDT

Contributed by: CBrining

MULLICA TWP. -- A firefighter in Mullica Township turned a terrifying Christmas day fire at his home, into a valuable learning tool Monday.

This isn't the first time fire crews from Mullica Township have responded to the home of Scott Powers, a fellow member of the department.

"Well, it was Christmas morning, about ten o'clock, smoke detector started.....Continue Reading

going off. Went to investigate. Noticed that there was heavy some crawling across the flood upstairs, told everybody to get out of the house." Power said.

Scott's wife, and four kids escaped safely, but the house was a total loss.

Monday night, Elwood firefighters joined forces with the three other departments that comprise the Mullica Township Force, to take part in a drill at the burned out structure.

"This is giving us an opportunity to get as close as possible to the real thing, without setting the house back on fire," said Elwood Fire Chief Anthony Tomasco.

"We can reconstruct what we went though. The scenarios we had, and we're just making something good out of something bad on Christmas Day." said Elwood F.D. Chief Engineer/Training Officer Jerry Titherington.

Dozens of his fellow firefighters took part in the three drills, a strong response that mirrored the effort on Christmas day.

"It's a family. Even though we're in different houses, and different departments, we're here for the same purpose, everybody, and it's for everybody to go home safe." Powers said.

Later this month the house will be demolished. But, Scott says he's happy that, in the meantime, some good is coming from such a terrifying incident.

"Of course, it's been tough, but the community, and the support and the outcome. I never said woe is me, I don't cry about it, I just work forward, and if that's what everybody does, then there's always going to be a positive outcome," he said.

Powers is hoping to have the demolition started by April 18, and a new house constructed at the very same location, by the middle of the summer.

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