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Show Page 10 The Ogden Valley news Volume XIV Issue XV October 15, 2007 Fire Prevention Week Recognized in October On the evening of October 8, 1871, the worst recorded forest fire in North American history raged through Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, destroying millions of dollars worth of property and timberland, and taking between 1,200 and 2,400 lives. It is called the “Peshtigo Fire,” though it wasn’t just the village of Peshtigo that was affected. The fire covered about 2,400 square miles, or 1.5 million acres in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. At the same time, forest fires also ravaged vast areas of Lower Michigan as well. Though other villages and farm settlements were affected by the fire, the greatest loss of life and property occurred in the village of Peshtigo where about 800 people died there—nearly half of the official population from the 1870 census. The land clearing practices of the time contributed greatly to the fire. Farmers cleared the land of hardwood growth and utilized “slash and burn” methods. During logging operations, slash from the huge virgin pine forest was intentionally burned or left in piles in the woods and clearings, creating dry tinder for forest fires. Trees and brush that were cleared from rightof-way areas for railroads were left by the wayside. In dry weather, sparks from steam engines often ignited grass, brush, and slash material. Many months of extreme drought, combined with the land-clearing practices of the time, caused many small fires to be whipped into a huge forest fire when a cyclonic storm blew up on the night of October 8, 1871. The fire continued to burn until it reached the waters of Green Bay, the storm winds died down, and the rain came. You’ve probably never heard of the Great Peshtigo Fire. It has been overshadowed in history by another fire that also started on October 8, 1871; The Great Chicago Fire. The high winds and drought conditions added to the severity of both fires. Although the 250 deaths from the Chicago Fire pale in comparison to the loss of life in the Wisconsin and Michigan wooded frontier, Chicago was a much larger city with better communication and access to the rest of the world. Peshtigo was a rough frontier town in the woods with a single telegraph line, which was destroyed by the fire. The week of October 7 through October 13 is Fire Prevention Week. The history of Fire Prevention Week has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire. This tragic conflagration left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2000 acres within 27 hours. The origin of the fire has generated speculation since its occurrence, mixing fact and fiction and the events becoming blurred over the years. The most popular legend is that Mrs. Catherine O’Leary was milking her cow when the animal kicked over a lamp, setting the O’Leary’s barn on fire and starting the spectacular historical conflagration. Although the fire did, mostly likely, start in the O’Leary barn, history is unclear on whether Kate and her cow really had anything to do with it. Eight Decades of Fire Prevention Those who survived the Chicago and Peshtigo fires never forgot what they’d been through; both blazes produced countless tales of bravery and heroism. But the fires also changed the way that firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety. On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (today known as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should henceforth be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. The commemoration grew incrementally over the years. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation. According to the National Archives and Records Administration’s FIRE STATION cont. from page 1 began clear back in 1998,” Austin explains. The Insurance Service Office (ISO) came out to reevaluate the Huntsville area, and informed Mayor McKay that the town’s insurance rate was going from an 8 rating up to a 9-10. The biggest reason for the rate increase was that many businesses were over five miles from a fire station, and more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant. It is 5.1 miles from the Eden Station to 100 S. going in to Huntsville town. Weber County Fire Department also covers all unincorporated and outlying areas in the county, such as Trappers Loop; and up North, Middle, and South Fork Canyons. According to 1998 insurance records, a local Huntsville business with an annual insurance premium of $459 jumped to $899 with the new ISO rating. The first solution was to put a fire engine at the Public Works Building in Huntsville. This is a building that sits behind the public library. A number of people worked on a volunteer basis, and responded to a pager when the community was in need of the engine. “We knew this was just a band aide for the real problem,” says Chief Austin. The biggest problem with a volunteer ran station is simply the logistics of the Valley’s location. Most local residents find employment outside of the Valley, and would be at least a half an hour away when needed to respond to an emergency call. This increased response time and narrowed the pool, or number of people who could efficiently volunteer. Response time is a critical reason that county officials pushed for a new fire station in Huntsville. In a medical emergency, or during a fire, four to six minutes is the response time range fire fighters shoot for. Those are the most critical minutes in responding to an emergency. If a fire is to start up by Causey Reservoir, or on the east end of Huntsville, it would take more than four to six minutes for an engine to respond from the Eden station. Chief Austin explains that, in addition, if the Huntsville Station were called to a large structure fire, the Eden Fire Station could be called out to assist them. This could work the other way, also, with the Eden Station calling upon the Huntsville Station for assistance rather than waiting for the arrival of assistance from county engines stationed on the other side of the mountain. The approximate population of Ogden Valley is 4,000, but that doesn’t take in to account part-time residents and recreational visitors. “There is a big need for emergency response services in the Valley. Seventy-seven percent of all our calls are actually medical calls, rather than calls in response to fires,” states Austin. Austin explains that the Huntsville station will start out with a minimum of two firefighters per 24-hour shift. He plans to increase staffing as funding becomes available. The new fire station was constructed under direction of KIER Construction, and cost approximately $2,271,037. Austin explains that county impact fees funded the majority of the cost of the building. The Huntsville Station would have actually been completed by late August, but in the late stages of construction, progress was slowed by problems obtaining permanent power, and secondary water. Why is the Huntsville Station named Weber County Station 65? Are there really 65 stations in Weber County? Actually there are only six. The six stands for Weber County’s Department designation; thus, all Weber County Stations begin with the number six. The five is the station designation, so the Huntsville Station is designated as number five within the county. Fire Chief David Austin has spent 32 years in fire service. He has worked as a fire chief for 20 years between his time with Weber County and previous work in Colorado. Chief Austin stresses, “I wanted this new station to remove tax burdens on Valley residents, and provide better services for the community.” Chief Austin and The Weber County Fire District invite community members to attend Station 65’s ribbon cutting ceremony and open house. “I want this grand opening to be for the community,” says Austin. “It’s not just for diplomats and officials. This is a time for community members to come out and see their new fire station.” enough to accommodate, at minimum, a ladder truck, a brush truck, and a water tender. The high ceilings and large windows are conducive to natural light to save on energy use. Next to the bay area there is a medical storage room, a shop area, and a room where “turn-outs” are kept. “Turn-out” is a term that refers to the fire clothing and protective gear that firefighters wear when responding to a fire. There is also a decontamination room where firefighters can remove clothing, shower, and wash clothes after a call. Chief Austin explains, “When firefighters go out on a call, they are often exposed to hazardous chemicals, smoke, ash, and bodily fluids. This decontamination area allows firefighters to directly remove and wash clothing at the station so possible contaminants are quickly contained and eliminated before exposing firefighters’ families, and additional community members to any possible toxins.” With the addition of a new fire station in the Valley, the Eden Fire Station will still remain operating. “It will not be shutting down,” assured Chief Austin. “The Huntsville Station will operate in addition, and in cooperation, with the existing station.” Many Valley residents may wonder why a second fire station is needed in the Valley. “Actually, this whole process FIRE PREVENTION cont. on page 12 d! ce Pri Log Cabin with great potential! 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