Monday’s fire was used for training

Members of the Hutchinson Fire Department conducted a Fire Cause Determination class Monday evening just north of Hutchinson.

“It was just a training exercise,” Hutchinson Fire Chief Brad Emans said.

Explaining how the class works, Emans said the department lights random fires to depict an accident or arson. Then the firefighters have to put out the flames and examine the scene. They also have to determine how the fire was started, if it was an accident or arson, and then interview people, and determine the cause.

The fire attracted much interest, as heavy traffic flowed through the roundabout at the intersection of Montana Street and Golf Course Road.

“I think everyone in town knows how to use the roundabout,” Emans said. “There must have been 100 cars that drove by.”

(Melissa Sullivan is the copy editor at the Hutchinson Leader. She can be reached at sullivan@hutchinsonleader.com.)