CAMDEN — The former Lotus Restaurant on Route 1 in Camden will be torched this coming weekend, as Hannaford Supermarkets clears the front part of its property, and area firefighters conduct training exercises with an intentional structure fire.

"We don't have a local training facilility and when we get a chance to do structure burning it is an opportunity for firefighters to practice their skills," said Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley, who is coordinating the March 25 burn that will include some Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport firefighters, as well as Camden's 25-member volunteer department. "We don't get together very often, and this is a good chance for relationships to build."

The property at 133 Elm Street and the corner of Conway Road was acquired by Hannaford in 2007, and is assessed by the town at $591,900. It includes a 7,192 square-foot building, constructed in 1970, that until recently housed Lotus Restaurant and an apartment. It was remodeled by previous owners to be a spa and salon; a section remained designated as a restaurant.  The building is assessed at $335,300 and sits on one acre of land, which is assessed at $252,600.

"After the controlled burn is complete, we will have a contractor remove the debris, and then we’ll landscape the property," said Eric Blom, external communications manager for the Scarborough-based Hannaford Supermarkets.

Farley said the drills will begin Saturday morning and continue through Sunday evening, with firefighters rotating through the building and practicing firefighting skills in dark, smoky situations. Those training evolutions give firefighters a wider perspective on fire, how it progresses through a building and affects its structural integrity.

Firefighters are usually intent on extinguishing fires and saving property. With intentional burns, there are lessons on fire behavior, the physics and chemistry of combustion, how to recognize different manifestations of smoke, and distinguish at which stage a fire might be.

Traffic along Route 1 will continue as normal over the weekend, although the road will be monitored for safety purposes to keep drivers moving. Electrical power to the building has been turned off, as have connections to propane tanks at the rear of the property. Firefighters will also keep radiant heat to nearby properties to a minimum.

"There will be as little impact to Subway as possible," said Farley. Conway Road, however, will be shut down.

The building will be set fully aflame at approximately 6 p.m., beginning at the end of the structure closest to Hannford. Farley said the plan calls for the fire to open up across the peak of the roof, which will then collapse into the building. The burn is to expected to be finished by 10 p.m.

The woodframe structure sits on a concrete slab. Hannaford has contracted for demolition cleanup.

Attempts to reach Ken, who was operating Lotus Restaurant, have been unsuccessful. Lotus Restaurant shut its doors more than a month ago after many years of operation.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657.