That House On Division Teeming With Fire Fighters? Don't Worry

It was the crowd of fire fighters in full gear on the roof of the house that caught my eye as I waited to turn right onto Division Street from the Route 4 offramp across from 1149 Restaurant.

But no flames. No smoke.

Warwick Fire Capt. James Maxfield filled me in: these were fire recruits and they were training on the empty house. 

"Today we're doing forceable entry and ventilation," Maxfield said. That would explain all the holes in the roof. 

He said the homeowner had contacted the city (that side of Division Street is Warwick) and gave the structure to the fire department to practice on. 

Holes in the roof of a burning structure can help draw the fire up and out, Maxfield explained, and can prevent a dangerously combustible situation inside.

This is the second training session to use the house and recruits will be there on and off over the next 10 weeks, Maxfield said.