Polk County Fire plans controlled "burn to learn" training at WOU; city to require DEQ clearance

Polk County Fire District No. 1 told Monmouth City Council it will hold a controlled "burn to learn" training at Western Oregon University on March 29, using modular buildings near Rice Auditorium for staged fires and investigator training, but officials said they will not proceed until the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) confirms there is no asbestos or lead requiring mitigation.

"On March 29, we'll be doing a burn to learn at Western Oregon University," Fire Chief Ben Stange told the council. He described a two-phase plan: initial ignitions that will be extinguished before reaching uncontrolled "free burn" so investigators can record origin and pattern data with GoPro cameras, followed by subsequent multi-agency classes and a later full burn of remaining structure elements after training objectives are complete.

Stange said Western has engaged a certified contractor for asbestos mitigation and that current reports indicate no asbestos or lead, but city and fire staff will wait for DEQ's official confirmation before issuing demolition permits and proceeding. He said the university and city will complete required demolition permitting and that the fire district will notify all properties within 600 feet by door-to-door contact during the week of March 17.

Councilors thanked the district for the precautions. Councilor McKeel said she appreciated the check for lead and asbestos, and Councilor Lopez asked whether the event would produce wider training benefits. Stange said bringing multiple modular structures together allows more firefighters and investigators to be trained in one location and helps build interagency relationships that can be called on in mutual aid situations.

Chief Stange also reported that there are no residences within roughly 350 feet (over 100 meters) of any corner of the buildings, and that the site is buffered by parking lots and other facilities. He invited council and city staff to request a follow-up presentation before the second training in April if needed and offered to be contacted directly for significant community concerns.

Organizers also requested staging materials such as household items or clothing by March 14 to set up realistic burn scenarios. Councilors suggested proactive public communications so neighbors understand the precautions and schedule.