
Firefighters prepare to enter the house scheduled to be burned in downtown Lowell during a training exercise.
By DEAN REA/Correspondent/The Herald — The house owned by the city in downtown Lowell won’t be burned to the ground on schedule.
This provides more time for firefighters to smoke up the place, to simulate fighting fires and to rescue dummies at the one-story residential structure, Chief Lon Dragt told members of the Lowell Rural Fire Protection District Board during Wednesday night’s meeting.
Asbestos was discovered in the floor and ceiling, which postponed the scheduled June 12 burn. The city council is expected to deal with the issue during its June 15 meeting.
The residential building was acquired by the city on property earmarked for commercial development in an area framed by East Main, West Boundary Road and Pioneer Street. The council is deciding how to sell the property.
The fire board authorized replacing the air-conditioning system in the station’s crew sleeping room, day room, conference room and kitchen. The 20-year-old existing system failed recently, which led Dragt to obtain estimates ranging as high as $15,452 for a replacement.
The chief reported one house fire and a water rescue occurred last month and warned that residents should consider fire danger high because of reported arson incidents in Eugene and Oakridge.
No member of the public spoke during a hearing that led to approval of what Dragt earlier described as a “hold-the-line” 2021-22 budget.
Meanwhile, the department and the city are cosponsoring a Town Hall discussion of “wildfire hazard safety” starting at 7 p.m. Monday, June 14, in the fire district’s community room, 389 N. Pioneer St. Space there is limited because of social distancing policies. If you wish to participate via Zoom, e-mail Dragt at [email protected].