History concerns halt house burn

There are numerous cases of historic homes being spared from the wrecking ball, but in Mount Airy’s case it was a controlled burn instead.

The Mount Airy Fire Department was all set to torch a yellow house at 126 W. Church St., next to First Presbyterian Church, for instructional purposes.

“We love to do live structural burns because that’s the best kind of training you can get,” Fire Chief Zane Poindexter explained Wednesday.

However, those plans were halted after a local preservation advocate, Carol Burke, came forward with concerns in light of the West Church Street structure’s role in the city’s history, Poindexter said.

What is known as the M.F. Satterfield House, and also the Nancy Minor House, was built around 1920, according to Mount Airy Historic District listings that included it in a boundary increase of the district in 2021.

The use of granite in the bungalow’s construction is among the notable features in a description of it filed with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office.

It is considered a “contributing building” in the local historic district.

Church reverses field

“At first I was approached by Steve Yokeley with the church, and he said they were interested in getting rid of the house,” the fire chief said in relating how it was targeted for the controlled burn by First Presbyterian leaders.

Now unoccupied, the one-story former dwelling reportedly has been used for storage and other activities over the years.

But after the historical concerns were raised by Burke, who has a long association with First Presbyterian Church, its leaders did an about-face.

She said Wednesday that a church group called the session, a body of elders who govern its operations, met on Sept. 16 and decided to halt plans for the burn.

“They’re going to some research,” the fire chief said. “So we’re just kind of in a holding pattern.”

Training regroup

Poindexter said controlled burns of houses are typically conducted by city firefighters in the spring and fall.

The last occurred in May with a structure on Galloway Street, and the West Church Street operation had been planned for November.

“There’s always people wanting to get rid of an old house,” the fire chief said regarding the supply of those used for training purposes.

“Most of the houses we get are in pretty rough shape,” he added. “This one (the house on West Church) was not.”

Controlled burns aren’t just a matter of having one available.

“There are a lot of benchmarks that have to be met,” Poindexter said of selecting an appropriate house for the training exercise.

It must have a certain amount of structural integrity — such as being minus rotting floors that might cave in when fire personnel make entry while it’s ablaze.

“A live burn is how people get hurt the most,” Poindexter said.