Firefighters burn building for Montreat town hall

Firefighters from several local fire departments practiced their skills May 14 in a controlled burning of an old house on the lot Montreat plans to build its town hall.

The building, outside the Montreat Gate, convened the crews from Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Riceville, Garren Creek, Broad River and Asheville fire departments.

“The state says that in order to burn a structure we have to get quality training out of it,” said John Wilson, Black Mountain Fire Department deputy chief. “We have to be able to go in and get live burn training.”