Practice blaze in Roberts benefits two organizations

• PHOTO: Practice blaze

The Roberts-Warren Fire Department and other local departments burned down a house on the property owned by the St. Croix Animal Friends, southeast of Interstate 94 and the Roberts exit, on Saturday, Sept. 10. The burn was the first phase of clearing the land for the eventual building of a shelter.

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A house not usable on the St. Croix Animal Friends property in Roberts was burned as practice for the Roberts-Warren Fire Department last Saturday, Sept. 10.

The burn was the first phase of preparing the St. Croix Animal Friends (SCAF) property for a future Humane Society Adoption and Education Center.

SCAF Secretary Vicki Donatell said the buildings on the property could not be used as a shelter because of size, material requirements and system needs. 

“It is actually financially beneficial to get rid of the buildings and start from scratch to construct a modern facility because of the extensive recycling and reuse of material we were able to incorporate,” Donatell said. “We are thrilled that so much of the buildings’ materials can be repurposed  or reconstructed elsewhere: metal pole barns, millwork and wood flooring, doors, electrical and plumbing fixtures, appliances, pipes, a stained glass window, a huge six-foot wide pocket door, barn lumber and wood, and the list goes on.  One small building is currently serving as our office.”

Donatell said the house was the one structure on the property that “didn’t lend itself to being taken down and reassembled,” which is where the fire department became helpful.

“We are so fortunate that Chief Jeff Vogt of the Roberts Fire Department agreed to use the house for a training burn,” Donatell said.

The training exercise also involved fire and rescue personnel from the Hudson and River Falls departments.

Donatell said she was impressed by the professionalism and physical endurance the firefighters demonstrated. 

“It was fascinating to watch the procedure unfold and to see how the departments maintained control over the house as it burned.  The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department was called for assistance with crowd control as the flaming house drew the attention of passersby,” said Donatell.

Donatell said getting a facility built for the animals is a huge endeavor and SCAF appreciates any help residents or businesses are willing to provide.

“We long for the day when the shelter is a reality, but it’s the animals who feel the greatest need,” said Donatell.

For more information about the organization, volunteer needs, animal support programs, fundraising events or to donate online, please visit the new SCAF website when it launches later this month at www.stcroixanimalfriends.org. Donations toward the building fund or animal support programs may be mailed to: St. Croix Animal Friends, P.O. Box 1169, Hudson, Wis. 54016 or they can be made using PayPal on the SCAF website.

Tags: communities, wisconsin, roberts, fire