Area firefighters train with ‘fire tree’ in Mitchell

The flames shot high into the air, putting out heat that could be felt 30 feet from the “fire tree” they originated from.

But that didn’t discourage a team of area firefighters from slowly approaching the blaze with a running hose and fierce looks of determination.

The training event, held at the corner of 15th Avenue and the Highway 37 bypass on Saturday afternoon, was the final part of a firefighter certification course that began Jan. 21.

Seventeen students from Alexandria, Ethan and Rosedale Colony fought the propane-fueled fire. With one man walking between two rows of firefighters, the group repeatedly approached the fire, stopping only to cut off propane to the fire by turning a small valve on the ground.

The “fire tree” is a series of pipes with holes in it that allow propane to escape. When combined with a flame, the tree becomes instantly hot, shooting flames 20 feet in the air.

Capt. Ben Vanden Hoek, of the Mitchell Fire Division, and fellow firefighter Rob Parker were instructors for the class.

Vanden Hoek said Saturday’s exercise offered a chance for firefightersin-training to get some practical experience with fighting an actual propane fire.

“It’s kind of a true-life deal,” he said. “It’s very possible you could have a situation like that.” Dan Rehorst has been an Alexandria firefighter for 10 years. He said Saturday’s exercise made him a better-prepared firefighter. “It’s an excellent source of information,” Rehorst said. “It puts it in black and white.” Rehorst said the heat could be felt as soon as the fire began. “You feel it way back by the trucks,” Rehorst said. “It gets really hot. Using propane donated by Farmer’s Alliance, the fire tree left Rehorst feeling “100 percent better” about his knowledge and skill level. “It’s unbelievable,” Rehorst said.

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