Shoppers at stores along Church Street Monday night stopped and stared at what looked like a serious situation as firefighters converged on a boarded-up house on 3rd Avenue, but they were seeing was actualy a training exercise aimed at preparing emergency workers for specific situations.

Firefighters from Atmore, Poarch, Walnut Hill and Nokomis fire departmetments took place in the search and rescue training that used simulated situations, including smoke machines, to prepare them for real-life emergencies.