The Kern County Fire Department hosted a training for fire personnel in Golden Hills near Tehachapi on Thursday.
Firefighters from all over Kern County gathered in Golden Hills to battle a controlled building blaze, an exercise taht Captain Tyler Townsend said isn't done as often due to environmental concerns.
The old Golden Hills Country Club, which has been out of commission for nearly two decades, was burned down to give firefighters some live training experience.
The club had been standing since the late-60's and was a one-time fixture of the community. Time and frequent vandalism had robbed the building of its original look.
Larry Barrett, president of the Golden Hills Community Services District, called the situation a "total win-win" because it got rid of a building that had been vandalized and become a community eyesore while allowing firefighters to train.
Although there are no current plans for the area where the country club stood, Barrett said that some residents have called for a Golden Hills community center to be put there.
