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Almelund and Shafer fire fighters got together Wednesday evening, March 15 for a training exercise in Shafer. Instructors from Pine Technical College (Bob Bray) and Anoka Hennepin Tech (Frank Whitman) oversaw the exercise. The firefighters practiced on a propane tank simulator set ablaze. Anoka Hennepin Technical College supplied the unit.

Training officials wanted to thank Federated Propane for donating 645 gallons of propane and a driver to make the training possible.

It was estimated that 18,000 gallons of water were used among six trucks at the exercise.

About 25 personnel from each department participated.

One of the firefighters said flames would reach 75 feet and people who came by the site mentioned the flames could be seen from Lindstrom at times. Average temperature of the fire reached 1,500 degrees. The training is valuable because firefighters learn to approach a propane-based fire and practice maintaining a barrier of water to protect advancing personnel. With major highways in the area served by these departments the very real potential exists for a transport vehicle to be involved in a fire.

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