Four set fires burned a two-story cape to the ground on Wiscasset's West Alna Road Saturday morning. But this was no crime: Wiscasset, Alna and Dresden firefighters worked the fire as training. Past Wiscasset firefighter Duane Goud offered the building for the exercise.

Goud said it became water damaged beyond repair from burst pipes after he had renters in it. So a training burn benefited him and the fire departments who got the training out of it, he said.

"We're obviously very grateful for the opportunity," Wiscasset Fire Chief T.J. Merry said about two hours into the burn that had traffic down to one lane near Wiscasset Speedway. Firefighters started the fires with hay and a torch; each department got two rounds with the burning building, he said. "It's the best training you can have."

And the mild weather made a great day for it, Merry added. About 20 firefighters took part, he said.

Rhonda Hamlin watched the burn from her home next door. She was glad to see firefighters get the training, she said.