An illinois family gave its old farmhouse for firefighters to train inside before it burned

A historic farmhouse in New Lenox, Illinois, has served its final purpose by aiding in the training of local firefighters before being intentionally burned down. The Kestel family, who had owned the property for four generations, donated the vacant building to the New Lenox Fire Protection District.

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It's a lot of mixed emotions because, I mean, there's just so many memories and there's such a long history of all the people who lived in this house and farmed this land. But seeing these firemen here today is helping because I feel so proud that my parents are giving them the opportunity to have this experience.

Instead of a standard demolition, the family saw an opportunity for the house to provide invaluable real-world experience for firefighters. The building was used for live fire training exercises from Wednesday to Friday, following months of preparation that began in March. The final session on Friday marked the end of the house's long history, as it was allowed to burn to the ground.

Karen Kestel, a member of the family, described the experience as emotional due to the countless memories associated with the home. However, she expressed pride in her parents' decision to offer firefighters the chance to train in a realistic setting. "Seeing these firemen here today is helping because I feel so proud that my parents are giving them the opportunity to have this experience," Kestel said.

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It's a lot nicer to train in a house setting versus a metal building, because metal buildings typically react a lot different.

Officials from the New Lenox Fire Protection District highlighted the rarity and significance of such donations. The three-day program involved approximately 100 firefighters from New Lenox, Manhattan, and Frankfort. The training simulated emergency scenarios, including firefighting, search operations, and rescue efforts, in a way that standard facilities cannot replicate. Deputy Chief Brian Applegate emphasized that training in a real house provides a more accurate representation of how buildings react to fire compared to metal structures. The exercise also fostered collaboration among different fire departments, improving their integration for future real-world responses.

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We can also work with our mutual aid people, like Manhattan's here, so now we integrate better with one another. So, all in all, the totality of it makes it so beneficial for when we get out on the street. It brings us all together, hones our skills, and now we're going to perform better on the street.