WHITEASH - Williamson County Fire Protection District officials spent nearly a year jumping through hoops before getting permission to jump through flames at a training session Saturday.

The district was approached about a year ago by a Whiteash property owner who offered to let firefighters use an old house for live fire training. That was the easy part, according to WCFPD Deputy Chief Jeremy Norris.

"We had to file for a permit with the EPA. We had to get an asbestos abatement, and we had to meet with the historic preservation people to make sure the house didn't have any historic value," Norris said. "It took almost a year, but here we are."

Dozens of firefighters attended the training, which offered them the opportunity to practice their skills in a burning structure.

"We get to practice, and we get to do it in a safe environment with lots of controls," Norris said. "We run different scenarios, like search and rescue. We actually have dummies made up, and we go in to find them. The house has not been modified. There is still furniture in there, so the conditions are actually like in a real home."

Dustin Lawrence, 20, was one of eight Johnston City Fire Department firefighters to take part in the training.

Although he has two years of experience with the department, he said Saturday's training gave him the chance to hone his skills.

"We get to practice in as close to a real-life situation as possible," he said.

Lawrence's fellow JCFD firefighter, Will Shelby, said the training is beneficial for all firefighters.

"This is a refresher that is good for everybody," Shelby said. "It doesn't matter if you've been a firefighter for 20 years. You still need to do this. It is excellent training."

Norris said the house would be allowed to burn at the end of the training.

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