It’s been the talk of the town, what would happen to the old Thomas property after it was acquired by First Baptist Church. The answer came Thursday morning.

The vacant B.L. Thomas house on Alonzo Street was razed by the Red River Parish Fire Department. The burn was controlled by firefighters.

Chief Shane Felts used the occasion to test the readiness of the fire department. Fountains of water were continually sprayed on the structure and surrounding trees to keep the fire under control. EMS stood by just in case. Alonzo Street was blocked and traffic was controlled by the sheriff’s department.

That house had been unoccupied for a number of years. Trees and bushes had grown up thick enough to completely hide it from the street. A few days ago the bushes were cut in front of the house. All but a few large trees had been cleared away and burned on Wednesday.