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Editorial
Residents owe fire fighters, emergency crews debt of gratitude
Friday, August 27, 2010
We tend to take firefighters for granted. Put out the alarm, and they're there within minutes.
Two Open Forum letters at right are an acknowledgement of just how much dedication by how many people it takes to keep us all safe, both through major training exercises like that conducted at Trenton last weekend, and major fires like that at Perry Grain.
One volunteer and her husband were at work at the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department where they are volunteers when the Perry Grain call came in. The volunteer was attempting to keep a propane tank cool when the relief valve blew, a propane hose whipping in her direction, but she was able to avoid injury. They stayed at the scene for hours while firefighters responded from far and wide attempted to keep the huge fire under control.
Back at their rural home, after about an hour's sleep, they were called back to town when a truck caught fire in the rural fire barn on the south side of McCook. On the way, their pickup truck struck a deer.
That was the story of just two of the hundreds of volunteer and paid emergency crews who respond to major events like Thursday's fire, and all of them have tales of similar sacrifice.
All of them have to leave behind families, jobs and other responsibilities in order to save lives and protect property.
There are special "weeks" to recognize emergency crews, but let's not pass up every chance we get to let our friends and neighbors know how much we appreciate their sacrifices.
One practical way to do that is to attend an appreciation supper, motorcycle show and fund-raiser for the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department in a couple of weeks, Saturday, Sept. 11, starting at 5 p.m. at the McCook Eagles Club, 805 East B.
Sponsored by the Eagle Riders MC No. 2769, the event will include a ribeye steak sandwiches and side dishes at $8 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under; a motorcycle show, raffles and giveaways, a 50/50 drawing, music and fun.
For more information about the event, or to help, contact: Con, (308) 340-4345; Pat, (308) 340-2533; or Crystal, (308) 340-0624.