Firefighters Train at Hess Station

Just hours before the at the corner of Second Street Pike and Street Road was taken down, members from the all-volunteer used the building as a training ground.

Tuesday just after nightfall, firefighters climbed onto shingled roof of the building, which formally housed an auto repair shop, and used power saws, chainsaws and other equipment to vent the roof, Chief Glenn McKenney said.

Southampton firefighters don't often get to practice venting the roof of a real building, but, McKenney said, they are grateful for the chance.

Aside from an active fire, "this is the closest to the real thing as you can get," the chief said.

Back on the ground, firefighters used axes to practice forceable entry techniques. Hess' bullet proof glass proved no match for the firefighters and quickly broke.

The Hess station was donated for the night by the owners, who plan to rebuild with a newer Hess Express convenience store and be reopened by summer. By Wednesday morning, crews had already begun tearing down the structure.

The fire company is always looking for buildings to train in and on, McKenney said.