Firefighters practice on old farm house on North Whidbey

Approximately 40 firefighters arrived at the old farmhouse at 7 a.m. March 12 and conducted training exercises throughout the morning before igniting the building at approximately 12:30 p.m.

By Nathan Whalen • March 29, 2011 5:07 pm
Firefighters from North Whidbey Fire and Rescue operate a truck while a farmhouse on Ault Field Road burns to the ground March 12 as part of a training exercise. The home was owned by Westgate Home and RV.
Firefighters from North Whidbey Fire and Rescue operate a truck while a farmhouse on Ault Field Road burns to the ground March 12 as part of a training exercise. The home was owned by Westgate Home and RV.

Approximately 40 firefighters arrived at the old farmhouse at 7 a.m. March 12 and conducted training exercises throughout the morning before igniting the building at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Firefighters remained at the fiery scene to ensure the fire didn’t spread to nearby brush and power lines. The fire district has been using the house for training purposes for the past six months and Saturday’s exercise was the first time in 2011 firefighters conducted such a full-scale training fire.

Westgate Home and RV has owned the home for two years, and the house had been abandoned for several years prior to that, said Kevin Fakkema, general manager of Westgate Home and RV. He added two homes will eventually be built on the land. He didn’t have any information available on which family occupied the home.