Fire department training event burns old Dr. Bryant house

COLFAX - A house was burned down in Colfax over the weekend was a training event.

Volunteers from Colfax Fire Department and Whitman County Fire District 11 gathered Feb. 27 in the 1200 block of South Mill Street, behind St. Ignatius Hospital, to start four different fires at 10 a.m.

Groups entered, what was known as Dr. Bryant's house, to observe fire behavior.

On the last fire, the old Victorian structure was burned to the ground as crews used water supply and hoses from two different trucks. A particular mission was to save an old growth cedar tree right next to the house.

"The crew did an outstanding job saving the tree," said Colfax Fire Chief Craig Corbeill.

All told, 26 firefighters participated in the live-fire training exercise, including 23 volunteers and three full-time crewmen. The work lasted until 8 p.m.