Fireman responds

Dear Editor,

In response to Ray Havel's ignorant and inaccurate letter of the Dec. 23, vehicle fire of his:

When the call came over the fire phone, Dave Burton and I were working in the shop and went straight to the scene while Bob Marts and Mick Minnick went after the new fire truck.

Upon arriving at the scene, the pick-up was totally engulfed in flames. Dave and I attempted to put the fire out with two dry fire extinguishers while ammunition was going off in the cab.

All our efforts succeeded in doing was burning our hands as we tried to unlatch and pop open the hood. We then asked Ray for a garden hose. He declined to even look for one and went and sat down.

The new fire truck pulled up one or two minutes after we got there and promptly proceeded to put the fire out.

Not one moment were any of us (15-20?) firefighters just standing around. By the way, there were only 4 of us there.

I've never seen anyone so unappreciative of someone's volunteer work. Look up the word "volunteer," Ray, and be glad you have anyone willing to come to your aid, unpaid except with your thanks.

Jim Foster,

16-year Bartley

Volunteer Fireman