L.A. County firefighters challenged conventional wisdom on the saying, “Where there’s smoke…” Tuesday in Valencia.

A donor bequeathed the old Pier 1 building near the intersection of McBean and Magic Mountain parkways, to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. (The facility is expected to be torn down very soon, and replacement plans for store include a Zankou Chicken and a Jersey Mike’s.)

As a result, the 6th Battalion is using the empty space as a training ground.

“This week we get to do whatever we want with the space while we’re training, and we don’t get too many opportunities to do that,” said Battalion Chief Chris Rash. “We’re rotating all the rigs and the stations through the battalion in the city of Santa Clarita Valley.”

The drills are expected to continue for the next few days, according to Rash.

“We’re not burning anything, the building is not on fire,” he added, noting the smoke would be simulated from a machine.

“We’re just practicing our hose evolutions, practicing our instant command system, working in tandem with firefighters on the roof cutting holes to ventilate,” Rash said, “while at the same time we have firefighters going inside to put the fire out.”

In addition to the simulated smoke in Valencia, Angeles National Forest fire officials also conducted controlled burns Tuesday, in an effort to reduce potential fuel stores.

County fire officials, who were not involved in those drills, noted now is the time traditionally when controlled burns would be conducted, after the rains but before the weather becomes too dry and hot.

“What’s green is going to be green right now,” said Inspector Medina, “so before the winds start pushing through and things get dry and it’s an untenable atmosphere, now’s the time, to burn off (the fuel).”