July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Working together in a time of need (10/02/07)
Letter to the Editor
To the editor:
The Pennville volunteer Fire Department would like to thank all oif the people who helped us during the large fire we had near Pennville on Monday, Sept. 24.
The most obvious help came from our neighboring fire departments: Dunkirk Fire, Redkey Fire, Portland Fire, Bryant Fire, Montpelier Fire, Hartford City Fire, and Salamonia Fire departments.
Some departments sent grass buggies and tankers to help fight the fire initially, and as the fire got bigger more tankers were called to help bring water to the fire.
At the beginning of the fire, we were able to use water from the hydrants in Pennville, but had to switch to pond water to maintain enough water to protect and supply Pennville's other needs.
Before the fire could be brought under control, we had five engines pumping water either at the fire or at a gravel pit.
The engines at the gravel pit were pulling water from the pit and filling the tankers which were going to the fire and dumping the water in dump tanks, and then engines at the fire pumped the water to the fire.
Most all of the departments sent manpower to help fight the fire, which gave breaks to firefighters so that the same firefighters would not have to spend the whole five and one-half hours fighting the fire.
Hopefully, everyone got a break at some time or another because of all of the firefighters responding. Thank you!
Community volunteers also responded and tried to help, and we appreciate the help they were able to provide early in the fire response until properly-attired firefighters arrived. But we want them to know that it is important to be able to get hoses and other equipment off of the trucks early in the fire's response, and we do appreciate their help. Thank you!
Jay County EMS came and stood by while we fought the fire and provided medical attention to some who needed it. Thank you!
The Sheriff's department and the Redkey Police Department provided traffic control on Ind. 1 during the entire five and one-half hours, making sure that emergency vehicles had priority coming to the fire scene and also maintaining regular traffic. Thanks also to our Conservation Officer who responded and provided assistance at the scene. Thank you!
Our county businesses are also to be commended for the support they provide in times of emergency. Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, the Pennville Pantry, and Adair's Corner Market also provided food and refreshments to hot and thirsty firefighters. Volunteers also donated money to buy other necessary supplies. A special thank you goes to the Auxiliary members from the fire department for running back and forth with supplies, and the food and drinks preparation. Thank you!
Two very special businessmen need to be thanked as well for helping in a special way. Landon Excavating provided a bulldozer to clear a space between the mobile homes that would eventually provide the fire break we needed. John Bartlett provided a Track Hoe, which also helped push mobile homes away from the fire. Both guys had to get the equipment loaded and transported to the fire from other job locations and deal with wide-load problems traveling late in the day. Thank you!
As with most large incidents, the State also provided assistance in the form of a Department of Homeland Security coordinator, who made sure that we had the local resources to handle the emergency.
An Indiana Department of Environmental Management technician also came up and monitored air quality and warned residents of the possibility of irritating smoke residues by going house to house where residents were outside.
A lot of us don't realize how fortunate we are until a disaster strikes, then the many volunteers of the communities pitch in to help.
The firefighters responding may or may not have known the owner of the property involved, but they came anyway because they were asked or volunteered to come when they heard how big the fire had gotten. People showed up to see if they could help. I am sure that no one was expecting to spend a Monday evening like that or would anticipate spending another day like that, but we would if we were called.
Some fire equipment was lost in the fire, which can all be replaced. We are very thankful that no one was seriously hurt with such a large fire.
Jay County and the surrounding communities are a great place to live because we pull and work together when needed.
Again, we appreciate your support.
Thank you to all who helped in any way!
John Corwin
Fire Chief
Pennville Volunteer Fire Department
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The Pennville volunteer Fire Department would like to thank all oif the people who helped us during the large fire we had near Pennville on Monday, Sept. 24.
The most obvious help came from our neighboring fire departments: Dunkirk Fire, Redkey Fire, Portland Fire, Bryant Fire, Montpelier Fire, Hartford City Fire, and Salamonia Fire departments.
Some departments sent grass buggies and tankers to help fight the fire initially, and as the fire got bigger more tankers were called to help bring water to the fire.
At the beginning of the fire, we were able to use water from the hydrants in Pennville, but had to switch to pond water to maintain enough water to protect and supply Pennville's other needs.
Before the fire could be brought under control, we had five engines pumping water either at the fire or at a gravel pit.
The engines at the gravel pit were pulling water from the pit and filling the tankers which were going to the fire and dumping the water in dump tanks, and then engines at the fire pumped the water to the fire.
Most all of the departments sent manpower to help fight the fire, which gave breaks to firefighters so that the same firefighters would not have to spend the whole five and one-half hours fighting the fire.
Hopefully, everyone got a break at some time or another because of all of the firefighters responding. Thank you!
Community volunteers also responded and tried to help, and we appreciate the help they were able to provide early in the fire response until properly-attired firefighters arrived. But we want them to know that it is important to be able to get hoses and other equipment off of the trucks early in the fire's response, and we do appreciate their help. Thank you!
Jay County EMS came and stood by while we fought the fire and provided medical attention to some who needed it. Thank you!
The Sheriff's department and the Redkey Police Department provided traffic control on Ind. 1 during the entire five and one-half hours, making sure that emergency vehicles had priority coming to the fire scene and also maintaining regular traffic. Thanks also to our Conservation Officer who responded and provided assistance at the scene. Thank you!
Our county businesses are also to be commended for the support they provide in times of emergency. Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, the Pennville Pantry, and Adair's Corner Market also provided food and refreshments to hot and thirsty firefighters. Volunteers also donated money to buy other necessary supplies. A special thank you goes to the Auxiliary members from the fire department for running back and forth with supplies, and the food and drinks preparation. Thank you!
Two very special businessmen need to be thanked as well for helping in a special way. Landon Excavating provided a bulldozer to clear a space between the mobile homes that would eventually provide the fire break we needed. John Bartlett provided a Track Hoe, which also helped push mobile homes away from the fire. Both guys had to get the equipment loaded and transported to the fire from other job locations and deal with wide-load problems traveling late in the day. Thank you!
As with most large incidents, the State also provided assistance in the form of a Department of Homeland Security coordinator, who made sure that we had the local resources to handle the emergency.
An Indiana Department of Environmental Management technician also came up and monitored air quality and warned residents of the possibility of irritating smoke residues by going house to house where residents were outside.
A lot of us don't realize how fortunate we are until a disaster strikes, then the many volunteers of the communities pitch in to help.
The firefighters responding may or may not have known the owner of the property involved, but they came anyway because they were asked or volunteered to come when they heard how big the fire had gotten. People showed up to see if they could help. I am sure that no one was expecting to spend a Monday evening like that or would anticipate spending another day like that, but we would if we were called.
Some fire equipment was lost in the fire, which can all be replaced. We are very thankful that no one was seriously hurt with such a large fire.
Jay County and the surrounding communities are a great place to live because we pull and work together when needed.
Again, we appreciate your support.
Thank you to all who helped in any way!
John Corwin
Fire Chief
Pennville Volunteer Fire Department
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