Firefighters go above and beyond to keep citizens safe

 

Last updated 8/19/2016 at 4:56pm

--Photo courtesy of Stan Dammel.

The Black Rock Road fire of a couple of weeks ago was battled by Odessa firefighters, above, who then had to fight the Irby valley fire the next weekend. Several other small brush fires have caused the crews to be called out on several other occasions. Conditions remain hot. Vegetation is tinder dry and therefore a prime target for any spark from any source.

Some additonal pictures of the destruction caused by the recent Irby and Black Rock Road fires have been provided to The Record by Teresa Iksic and Stan Dammel. Since The Record is able to run color this week, we have included a color picture on the front page of one of the recent fires. More color pictures are available at The Record's website at http://www.odessarecord.com. High temperatures and dry conditions mean that brush fires large and small continue to keep area firefighters busy this summer, as they do most summers.

Regarding the Irby fire of last week, Teresa Iksic informs us that the home of Lois Iksic and that of Bradly Iksic were centrally located in the path of the fire. The homes of Norman and Lise Ott and of Mark and Marianne Iksic were on the outer edges of it. All four homes escaped the flames due to the efforts of firefighters. The fire was started south of Irby by lightening, traveled North into the Irby valley, crossed the railroad tracks and jumped Crab Creek going North before being extinguished.

The fire departments of Odessa and Harrington, as well as those of Grant and Adams Counties all took part in fighting the fire, as did air support provided by pilot Fred Meise of NorthWest Ag Total Crop Care.

Record reporter Linda Goodman also contributes a separate article on the actions of local firefighting crews.

By Linda Goodman

There is a select group of people in and around Odessa who, until certain situations arise, are often under-appreciated, overlooked and taken for granted. They put their own lives on the line with nearly every call that comes in, whether it be to protect homes, livestock and land, or even save lives, all the while sacrificing precious time with families, home-cooked meals, children's ball games, school performances and precious sleep – and all at a moment's notice. Moreover, they do all of this virtually for free. These are our own town and rural volunteer firefighters.

We usually see a few of them on a daily basis, going about their daily lives and working their "day jobs," but we to forget the dangerous situations they put themselves in until we hear that voice that calls to them from a radio hanging at the waist. We also forget what their "significant others" go through when a call comes. When I asked the wife (who wishes to remain anonymous) of a former department member what her feelings were and what she went through when a call came, she said, "When you hear the tone go off, the first thing emotionally is 'Oh man, where is the fire? How big is it? Has anyone been injured?' And then you realize your husband has a job to do, so you kiss him good-bye, tell him good luck and for the love of God, BE SAFE! But of course accidents will happen, and fires are unpredictable. Sometimes you worry – a lot! – until you finally hear an update. It is very nerve-wracking to know that your husband is out there so close to something that could possibly kill him. Then you hear the fire is out and overwhelming relief takes over. You know that he will be walking in the door soon, and all is right with your world again."

With a combined total of 50 firefighters, the Odessa Fire Department has 20, and Lincoln/Adams Fire District #3 has 30. Every department member is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The fire chiefs are the only salaried personnel; when out on an actual call, volunteers are paid by the hour. Besides being on call 24/7 and the time they spend on a call, about an additional three hours a month is requested of the them for things such as meetings, held monthly (usually preceded by a BBQ), and community events such as the Deutschesfest parade. A first-aid class is required to be taken every two years, and a trainer comes to Odessa on a monthly basis to work with the crew to ensure that their skills stay fresh, sharp and up to date. These people are so much more than just firefighters. If necessary, they are also capable of directing traffic, setting up perimeters, assessing situations and securing sites. They can administer first aid and/or stabilize victims (although it's not required, a couple of department members are also EMTs), clean up combustible and/or flammable spills and, if needed, use the "Jaws of Life" to free accident victims.

When I asked Lincoln/Adams Fire District #3 chief Roger Sebesta if he thought the majority of calls both departments went on were fire calls or emergency calls, his immediate reply was, "Brush fires. I'd definitely say about 90 percent of our calls are brush fires and really, the only training there is for a brush fire is experience." With brush fires it's extremely important to be alert, pay attention and stay one step ahead, because conditions can change in an instant, and if the firefighter isn't completely aware and alert to everything going on around him, the end result could be catastrophic. "You know those days where there is no rain, but there is lightning? You know, dry lightning?" Roger asks me. "On those days you can usually find some of the guys, not all of them but a good portion of them, just sitting at the station waiting because you already know that call coming in is inevitable. It's not a matter of if it comes in, it's a matter of when it comes in, and it is going to happen any minute."

Our firefighters do so much for us both individually and for the community. They are often the first at a scene and the last to leave. The next time you happen to see one of them, take five seconds to smile and say, "Thank you for the selfless act of kindness you give to our community every single day." I'm sure those words, although felt by everybody at times, are very seldom heard by our fire departments. These folks are our unsung heroes, so let's show them our appreciation.

Author Bio

Terrie Schmidt-Crosby, Editor

Terrie Schmidt-Crosby is an editor with Free Press Publishing. She is the former owner and current editor of the Odessa Record, based in Odessa, Wash.

 

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