Tehachapi News

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An area landmark often referred to as “The big green barn” facing Tehachapi High School went up in flames on May 3 as Kern County firefighters set three structures ablaze for a multi-unit training exercise.

The property is best known as the former Nunes Apple Orchard, located at the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Dennison Road, where 27 different varieties of Tehachapi-grown apples were sold for nearly 20 years. The buildings that were burned, two barns and a small house, may date back to the early 1900s. John Nunes, who operated the orchard from 1973 to 1990 could not say exactly how old the buildings were.

“It’s sad to see the end of an era,” said Nunes, who now resides in Turlock. “But I’ve been concerned about the liability issues; having two empty buildings - and the high school right across the street.”

Nunes, who was joined by his son Greg at the training exercise, said that kids have been known to come across the street to smoke inside the barn, causing him to contact the KCFD and suggest the controlled burn.

Kern County Fire Chiefs Steve Kinsey and Tom Franchere determined early on Saturday morning that the weather conditions were “perfect” for the burn, with just enough wind and the proper directionality to send the smoke away from area homes.

In addition to dousing the flames, training exercises included forced entry, and various rescue drills that help firefighters learn to create and maintain a “mental map” while maneuvering inside a burning structure — in some cases while pulling a fallen firefighter or civilian victim outside to safety. In most exercises they work in teams, usually consisting of three firefighters.

“The use of these buildings has provided some excellent training opportunities for our firefighters,” said Chief Kinsey listing a number of area units that were able to benefit from the training. “We were able to do some drills that a lot of times they wouldn’t have the opportunity to do without this type of donation to us.”

Participating units included Tehachapi’s Station 12, Tehachapi Valley Crew 81 (three quarters of the crew are Tehachapi High School graduates), also Bear Valley Station 16, Station 18 out of Stallion Springs , Station 11 from Keene, Unit 916 from CCI Tehachapi, reserve engine #40, Mohave’s engine 14, and California City’s engine 190, which is not part of the KCFD. 

According to Kinsey, the green barn and the small home took twice as long to burn as a modern structure of similar size and construction because the aged wood is knot free, much stronger and higher quality than modern construction materials.
A caretaker will remain on the property as residences and other, more modern outbuildings remain intact.

Check back on Monday for more pictures.