AUBURN – A year ago, Mid-State College closed its door after administrators failed to get accreditation for the school. The building was auctioned off to the highest bidder soon after.

As if things weren’t bleak enough for the 137-year-old college, now fire officials plan to burn most of the building down.

Four live training sessions have been scheduled, in which firefighters will set fire to several school rooms and contents in order to hone their skills.

Crews from Auburn and Lewiston fire departments will be joined by the Maine Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators as the building is torched.

Lewiston and Auburn fire departments have been using the former Mid-State College buildings for training since the end of July. According to Auburn Fire Chief Wayne Werts, it has resulted in hundreds of hours of training as well as the certification of arson-detection dogs from this country and Canada.

The training sessions are scheduled for Sept. 3, 8, 10 and 13 and will last most of the day on those dates.