Editor’s note: The following is reprinted from the Hale Horizons, one of several community newspapers printed each week at Gallatin Publishing Company. Although the details written by Karlene Hart apply specifically to that town of about 500 in Carroll County, the lessons learned generally may apply to other rural communities and are worth your consideration.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
This past week has been quite a learning experience for me and something I think we all need a refresher course or a little reminder about some things — at least I have become more aware of certain things!
Seldom are we the “first” to be on a scene of an emergency, such as a fire. For some reason I chose a different path Tuesday morning and was later than I had been for taking my walk. As I have recently been timing my walks, I took my cell phone; usually, I seldom take it with me. So, this is…
Learning Lesson #1: Something not right, check it out — Don’t ignore it! When I saw the white mist coming from the vent at Lori Crackenberger’s salon, I really wasn’t thinking about it being smoke (actually it reminded me of light steam from a dryer vent). I remembered Lori’s “Open” sign displayed in the salon’s window and just thought she was doing something inside as I passed by the shop. Then I realized it was too hot to have
steam from a dryer and who ever heard of a dryer vent near the roof!
I noticed a “scorched” or “hot” smell and looked around to’ see if someone was burning something nearby. Finding nothing, I went back to’ see if there was a car in the parking lot and there was not.
Thinking maybe someone might have brought her to town, I went to the door. When I opened the storm door, the smell of something hot was much stronger and I couldn’t see through the windows.
I got Keith Berger’s attention and told him my concern. He tried the locked door and he agreed that something was going on inside and we wondered where was Lori.
Learning Lesson #2: Don’t assume your call will be answered on the first ring after dialing 911. My phone rang 3-4 times before a dispatcher answered.
Learning Lesson #3: Have your address in plain sight. Thank goodness Lori did and
very visible! At the time I couldn’t remember the name of her salon, but when I told the dispatcher the address, she knew exactly where it was! Remember, it may be a stranger that makes that call on your behalf.
Learning Lesson #4: When the dispatcher answered my call and asked my emergency, I gave her the details. And then I was told to hold while they connected me to Carrollton’s
Communication Center. I thought I had Carrollton and didn’t understand the transfer. That transfer didn’t take long, and I told the second lady dispatcher what I had told the first one. One of the dispatchers that took my call did ask for my number and who I was I do remember I had more questions from Carrollton’s dispatcher and was given
instructions as to what to do — or not to do. I later asked Chief Randall Foster why I
had to repeat the emergency to two different people and this is what he believes happened. Beware of this: if you call on a landline in this area, the call goes directly to Carrollton. If you call from a cell phone, depending on where you are, your 911 call could go to Livingston, Chariton, or possibly Linn County towers and then be transferred to Carrollton. I guess mine did. It was all right; at least someone knew what and where the emergency was on the first call. But if you are frightened or in a hurry, you might
hang up too soon. So, if you have access to both a cell phone and landline, choose
that landline!
Learning Lesson .#5: The dispatcher asked if we knew where Lori was. Keith was using
his phone trying to locate her or find someone who might know where she was or how she could be reached. I was then asked if I had a number for her and remembered the signs in the salon window. Sure enough, there was the number, but it was her home phone; not cell phone. Perhaps in this case it would be best to hear from someone you know over the phone with bad news. But it is a thought — include that cell phone in case of emergency. Again, it might be a stranger doing that call and they might not know everyone in Hale as Keith and I do.
Learning Lesson #6: Give out Carroll County Sheriff’s Department more pats on the back. You know who was the first person responding to the call? A Carroll County Sheriff Deputy who was in the Tina area when he heard the call. Shortly after Randall Foster came to town from Chillicothe to bring the fire truck from the ”barn,” another deputy and Sheriff McCoy arrived on the scene. Never before had I seen a deputy helping on a fire truck, but he did as Randall and Ethan were trying to control the situation. And Sheriff McCoy was not just a distant bystander. He was right there up front with Randall and Ethan while the first deputy to arrive was working with vehicles trying to go through
Main Street.
Learning Lesson #7: I was very impressed with what I saw! These volunteers were doing their job and doing it professionally from what I could see. There was no shouting to another as to who was to do what. Everyone seemed to know what was to be done and when. And with both Hale and Carrollton’s departments, all the necessary equipment was available to control the fire and clear the smoke.
Learning Lesson #8: We need more volunteers who are available during the day. Randall and Ethan (Ethan is under 18 and cannot do everything that our volunteers can do) were the only ones from the Hale fire department on the scene, and Randall had
to come all the way from Chillicothe. From the time the call went in, it was probably over 30 minutes before the fire truck got to the scene. It could have well been someone’s home with a much bigger blaze. And nothing could be done but wait until someone out of town could respond even though we have a fire truck right here in town. Thirty minutes is a long time for help. But our volunteers have to work to support their families and no one can fault that. There are usually several volunteers available at night and weekends, but not all emergencies happen at night. This is something each one of us needs to be concerned about and find some sort of solution.
Thank goodness this situation did not include a home, loss of life, or the complete
destruction of a business. Although Lori probably thinks “what a mess,” it all can be
cleaned up and fixed. But one of the many good things about living in a small
town is when there is trouble, people come to help in whatever way they can. Just like
Keith Berger did. Just like Adam Gilliland did by bringing a fire extinguisher from the
bank or thinking to shut off the electricity as Jonathan Locke did. But it’s always a
relief to see the arrival of those who have the authority and the equipment to get a
job done no matter what type of an emergency! It’s definitely been a “wake up call” for me.