Walking for firefighters
Callaway says ‘thank you’ with fund raiser
- “The firemen dropped everything and relentlessly fought the fire for an extended period of time.” That’s how Wendy Dockweiler of Callaway explained the choice of 17 hours as the time length of a fund raiser for the Callaway Volunteer Fire Department.
On March 24, several fires started along Callaway Road east of Callaway when a farm implement threw sparks as it scraped on the asphalt. The Callaway Volunteer Fire Department responded with mutual help from several other districts. Callaway firefighters were on-site long after the initial blazes were subdued, even monitoring hot spots over the weekend and the following Monday.
The fund raiser came about through talk at Callaway Public Schools.
“We were talking among ourselves about how we as a community can thank the fire fighters,” Roni Boeser said. “We wanted to include the kids to teach them how important fire departments are and how hard they work.” Boeser’s home along with several others was threatened by the fire.
The fund raiser is a Walk-a-thon scheduled for Wednesday, April 27 from 5 a.m to 10 p.m. People are invited to sign up for a time to walk and make donations. All proceeds will go to the Callaway Volunteer Fire Department.
The walk will be at the Callaway School track. The idea is to keep people on the track for 17 hours, representing the long time it sometimes takes to fight fire.
To register for a time slot, call the Callaway Schools at 308-836-2272.
“Anyone who wants to be a part of it can be,” Stephanie Ross, one of the organizers, said. “You can walk, you can push a stroller.”
A free-will donation lunch will be served beginning at 11 a.m. Hot dogs, chips and water will be available as long as supplies last. The food is being provided by the 10 families whose homes were saved by firefighters.
Firefighters who have heard about the fund raiser have contacted the school to let organizers know that some of them will be on hand to walk with students Wednesday morning.
Dockweiler, Boeser and Erin Reiff shared thoughts about what the evening of the fire was like for them.
“Your emotions go to the extreme,” Dockweiler said “It’s an emotional wave. It comes down to the gratefulness and safety for all those who were helping.”
Erin Reiff said the fire came within about 100 yards of her family home. “It was in the trees and we were worried,” she said. “We had everything packed to go.” She called the work firefighters did “amazing.”
Boeser said she went on a walk that day and when she turned around, she saw flames. “I ran home and got the boys in the car and started the sprinklers.” She said her family learned a very important thing: “We didn’t have a fire plan.”
Now her sons - fourth grader Quinton and pre-schooler Taygen know what to do if there is another fire. “Call 911 and then call my Mom and Dad,” Quinton said. He also wants to say “Thank you” to the firefighters. “They can do tough things,” he said.
The alternative location for the Walk-a-thon is the Callaway Community Center.