Area residents may have noticed a lot of smoke Monday afternoon.

As part of the on-going training for Centre fighters, two structures at Third Avenue and Tol Street were burned Monday afternoon.

The billowing smoke could be seen as far away as Leesburg.

The abandoned homes were chosen through the City of Centre’s “Lien & Clean” Ordinance, as part of the effort to rid the city of structures which may be an eyesore to the community, and also are potentially a source of health problems.

There are plans to use another vacant home in that immediate area for a future exercises.

The training is just one example of the dedication to fire safety exhibited by the City of Centre and Cherokee County, in the effort to provide the community with the most effective fire protection possible; continuous training also helps to protect the lives of firefighters as they take their lives into their hands, to assist the public.