Santa Maria firefighters train in live fires

The city of Santa Maria Fire Department will intentionally burn two downtown buildings in a series of technical live fire exercises and firefighter training programs.

The building locations are 518 and 600 East Boone Street, near the city’s transit center. The two single-story former commercial/office buildings are being burned and demolished to make room for the future 262-unit Hancock Terrace apartment project.

The property owner donated the buildings to the department.