Elma, Washington - The police chief feels burned, but the fire chief says his department is not to blame.
On Sunday, in a training exercise, the Elma Fire Department burned down a vacant house owned by Police Chief Greg Adams.
But Adams says he had "put a stop and a hold on the whole thing."
"We are totally in shock here," the chief said Tuesday.
Adams said he had given permission several months ago for the house to be burned, but changed his mind last month and wanted to remodel the place into a home for his parents.
He said he told Fire Chief Dave Osgood he wanted to keep the house.
But Osgood says Chief Adams "knew we were going to burn his house down.
"He knew it was coming. We do a good job," he added with a chuckle.
"I don't see what the problem is. It is down on the ground and (the lot) is ready for a new house."
Osgood said the rumor that the department didn't have permission for the burn was spread by "a guy" who works for East County Medic One.
Ashes, charred wood and the blackened remains of a couple of appliances are all that remain of the vacant 11
