By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO — An old two-story house on Del. 24, no longer wanted by Mountaire Farms, is destined to be razed in a control burn.

However, before it is taken down by the Millsboro Fire Co., the structure is serving as a training ground for its personnel.

“We acquired a tremendous training structure out on SR 24,” company president Ron O’Neal said at the March 4 Town Council meeting.

“Mountaire has decided to do away with that home, but they have allowed us to do some great training in there. It is a huge facility, so we are going to be able to do some very good things there.”

It’s a fruitful relationship, said Mountaire spokesperson Catherine Bassett.

“Mountaire has a great partnership with our local first responders, and we work together whenever we can to support each other,” she added. “When we purchased this property, we reached out to see if they could use the facility before it was razed. We are so glad that they have been able to use it multiple times for a variety of purposes, even before they do a controlled burn.”

Recently, bailout training was conducted at the site, which is not far from the Mountaire plant, east of town. “Bailing out of the first- and second-floor window is pretty exciting,” Mr. O’Neal said.

When all instruction is complete, firefighters will burn the structure to the ground, which will be a training exercise in itself.

“To do that kind of thing, you don’t just burn it down. You go in there, and you do some practice fires, some of the interior rooms. You do some hose training,” Mr. O’Neal said. “Then, you burn it down when done.”

Until the to-be-scheduled razing, various educational sessions will continue at the location.

“At this particular time, it is a great house for us to do some training in,” said Mr. O’Neal. “There is a number of evolutions that can take place.”