Four HFD personnel off to western NC
HENDERSON — Early Friday morning, four city firefighters set off to McDowell County to lend a helping hand.
Emergency workers have access to a statewide radio frequency — Payne Watson recalled listening to some of the chatter from out west as officials were gauging Helene's impacts.
"I felt a tug in my heart," he said.
What with the dozens of agencies at every level assisting with the efforts out west, they felt the Henderson Fire Department had to do something.
There's a real brotherhood among firefighters, he explained.
The department wanted to go out and help, Charlie Mills recalled. Firefighters are trained for disaster situations like the one out west — there's no better opportunity to put that training to work and, in doing so, help their state and its people in their time of need.
It's tough out there, to say the least. Recalling what they heard on the airwaves, members of rescue crews in Asheville haven't been home in days, nor do they know if there's a home to which they can return.
Watson and Mills, along with compatriots Devin Sherrod and Colin Pruitt, will be working in McDowell County, which has been devastated by mudslides, according to a WRAL report. The fellows from Vance will work on an as needed basis and return this coming Wednesday.
"We're grateful for the city for allowing us to send people," said Chief Tim Twisdale. They've wanted to for past disaster situations but lacked the proper staffing. Nowadays, with all 42 positions filled, they can offer a greater degree of mutual aid.
In other fire-related news, fire prevention week begins Monday. That was the focus of a Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce event held at HFD's Dabney Drive station on Thursday.
The angle this year is smoke alarms — folks with a functioning one are 55% more likely to survive in the case of a fire, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Smoke alarms ought to be tested once a month and replaced entirely once a decade. When the batteries are close to dying, they chirp or beep every few minutes until those are replaced.
On Oct. 9, the HFD is hosting an open house at 211 Dabney Drive on smoke alarms from 5-8 p.m. Get ready for free food, truck tours and a fire extinguisher exhibition, at the very least.
At that same event, Ayana Fritz-Lewis and husband June Lewis spoke for a spell about their nonprofit organization Abria's Chase Foundation.
They lost two kids to a house fire and afterwards, founded the organization to promote fire safety and offer material and emotional support to others in their position. The idea is to ensure what they endured never happens again.
HVCC President Sandra Wilkerson brought them out to speak because fire prevention works, but sometimes a disaster happens anyways — such as what's happening out in western NC.
Abria's Chase will host a support group for kids dealing with grief — not necessarily fire-related grief — on Oct. 10, starting at 6 p.m. at their office at 205 Dabney Drive.
Returning to Thursday's event, Twisdale shared some interesting numbers. This year, HFD responded to 2,424 calls for service — the majority of which were medical calls.
On average they get eight calls every 24 hours. The department serves an area of only 8.6 square miles that contains 15,000 folks.
Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright gave some remarks on the county department as well, and ended by saying there wasn't much more to say beyond: "Call us and we'll be there!"
