Fire departments burn down remains of Carriage House
by Emma Tucker | Llama Ledger Staff
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: News
The Great Barrington Fire Department burned down Carriage House, which is located on Simon's Rock's Upper Campus, on Jan. 2, while students were on break.
Carriage House, once a utilized dorm, was the site of a fire in 2006. Since, the dorm has been unoccupied, but the partially burned building remained on Simon's Rock's campus through 2008.
The college no longer needed the house, which was beyond repair, so the Fire Department used the demolition as a training exercise.
"Whenever we get the opportunity to do this, we do it," says Fire Department Chief Harry Jennings.
Simon's Rock contacted the fire department a month before the burning took place. It was mutually beneficial, says Jennings.
"The college saved on demolition costs, and it provided training for us."
Along with Great Barrington's fire department, departments in Alford, Egremont, Sheffield, New Marlboro and Monterey were involved in the training.
The departments used smoke machines and live fires. For four hours in the morning, they focused on burning individual rooms.
"We had a weighted dummy, with was dragged out to practice rescue," says Jennings.
After the specific training, the departments burned down the entire structure.
Contact the author: etucker@llamaledger.com
Carriage House, once a utilized dorm, was the site of a fire in 2006. Since, the dorm has been unoccupied, but the partially burned building remained on Simon's Rock's campus through 2008.
The college no longer needed the house, which was beyond repair, so the Fire Department used the demolition as a training exercise.
"Whenever we get the opportunity to do this, we do it," says Fire Department Chief Harry Jennings.
Simon's Rock contacted the fire department a month before the burning took place. It was mutually beneficial, says Jennings.
"The college saved on demolition costs, and it provided training for us."
Along with Great Barrington's fire department, departments in Alford, Egremont, Sheffield, New Marlboro and Monterey were involved in the training.
The departments used smoke machines and live fires. For four hours in the morning, they focused on burning individual rooms.
"We had a weighted dummy, with was dragged out to practice rescue," says Jennings.
After the specific training, the departments burned down the entire structure.
Contact the author: etucker@llamaledger.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
pibly alum
posted 1/21/09 @ 8:59 AM EST
Carriage House experienced a fire that put it out of commission as a dormitory in the spring of 2006, not in 2004.
Carriage Refugee
posted 1/21/09 @ 1:50 PM EST
You burned down our monument. Jerks. The Great Miscarriage must be remembered.
MegMac
posted 1/21/09 @ 4:02 PM EST
this should have been done when the students were on campus i think. some of us that are still here are friends of Carriage House Refugees, i personally would have enjoyed more marshmellow and hot dog roasting in memory of this tragedy. (Continued…)
Post a Comment