Being a firefighter usually means putting out fires, but sometimes it means starting them as well – and that’s exactly what will be going on in Northwest Greensboro on Friday, April 26. That day, firefighters will first play arsonists in order for the Greensboro Fire Department to conduct live fire training and gain experience saving lives in those situations.
Firefighters will train from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.
The unlucky house is the one at 1816 New Garden Road, and, if you see it on fire while driving by, you don’t need to call 911 because first responders knew all about this particular fire well before it happened.
As part of the all day exercises, firefighters will practice things like proper ventilation during a fire fight, search and rescue techniques, and, of course, fire extinguishment.
The Fire Department is putting out the word to citizens ahead of time so they won’t be alarmed if they see fire and smoke emanating from the structure. According to fire officials, the amount of smoke present in the area due to the training exercises shouldn’t pose any health hazards.
The event announcement alerting people of the exercises states, “All structures utilized for live fire training by the Greensboro Fire Department meet compliance with NC DENR-Air Quality and NC Public Health regulations.”
Department officials say the live fire training provides the opportunity for firefighters to gain “valuable practice and experience” in fire control as well as in other activities that occur when battling a blaze in a structure that sometimes has people inside.
Something is going on since there are 3 houses that appear to have been empty for a long time. All of them are very nice older homes on large lots, so I guess it will be condos or something. Scott, due some sleuth work and get back to us on what’s proposed for those lots.
Townhomes similar to those already there.
Who is the current owner?
Let’s pretend you bought the home/land and want it rezoned to allow for you to build commercial or multi-dwelling units. Why not have the Fire dept burn it down in order to significantly reduce the demo costs to remove the home…..and then use the tax deduction to offset the purchase price. Nah. That would never happen.
“The Tax Court agreed with the IRS that after the house was contributed and burned down, the taxpayer ended up with a more valuable tract of clear land than he had before the donation. The court nevertheless concluded that the benefit the taxpayer received was far less than the benefit the fire department received. As a result, the taxpayer was allowed a charitable contribution deduction equal to the house’s fair market value.”
https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2009/feb/contributingahousetofiredepartment.html
Who is the current owner?
Let’s pretend you bought the home/land and want it rezoned to allow for you to build commercial or multi-dwelling units. Why not have the Fire dept burn it down in order to significantly reduce the demo costs to remove the home…..and then use the tax deduction to offset the purchase price. Nah. That would never happen.
“The Tax Court agreed with the IRS that after the house was contributed and burned down, the taxpayer ended up with a more valuable tract of clear land than he had before the donation. The court nevertheless concluded that the benefit the taxpayer received was far less than the benefit the fire department received. As a result, the taxpayer was allowed a charitable contribution deduction equal to the house’s fair market value.”
https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2009/feb/contributingahousetofiredepartment.html
Buy property. Tax deduct donating home to Fire dept to off set purchase and significantly reduce demo costs.
Get it rezoned/approved for residental multi-dwelling.
Who owns the property?