POST FALLS - Bob Lackey's home burned down on Friday - and the Post Falls man could not have been happier.

Check that.

Lackey said his wife was also tickled about it because it meant a new home in the same spot is on its way.

"You can quote me on this ... 'My wife is happy,'" said Lackey with a smile as he watched the structure in flames during Kootenai County Fire and Rescue's practice burn. "She's the boss."

The burn of the home on Fisher Avenue in the northwest part of the city was the culmination of a training series held at the structure in the past month by the fire agency and law enforcement.

Heath Sheppard, KCFR's division chief of training, said controlled burns not only help emergency responders train in real structures but it saves homeowners on demolition costs.

"It's a win-win," he said.

Sheppard said KCFR conducted various types of trainings, including searches, rescues and fire, inside the home.

"Normally we don't have real walls to train around," he said.

During some trainings, a fake meth lab and a mannequin simulating an unconscious person were used and the responders were unaware of the situation inside.

"It keeps you on your toes," Sheppard said.

A law enforcement SWAT team also pounded on the structure for live training.

"We try to take advantage over every square inch," Sheppard said.

This is KCFR's second training on a structure this year. During some years, no structures are offered or qualify.

"We have to turn quite a few homeowners down due to asbestos or the home being too close to other homes," Sheppard said.

Lackey lived in the home for four years. The original home on the property was built in 1910 before a fire destroyed it in 1957. A home was rebuilt that same year.

He said he's pleased that responders could utilize the home for training - and that he can continue his new house project.

"I have no attachment to it," he said.