Gaston Rural Fire District

Just three days after a real house fire about a mile away, the men and women of Gaston Fire return to Laurelwood on a cold, foggy night to practice rescuing a fallen firefighter.

Lieutenants Clay Davis and Justin Mesenbrink, veterans of many real house fires, helped lead the volunteers into a smoke-filled house in a series of scenarios designed to replicate real-life emergencies.

The people of Gaston are lucky in two ways. First, real emergencies like this are extremely rare.

And second, when one does occur, Gaston Fire will be ready.