Demolished Firehouses
FIREFIGHTERS DIG OUT OF TANGLED FIREHOUSES; CONTINUE SERVING COMMUNITY
An EF-2 tornado relocated a 400-pound air compressor to the fire station’s roof and buried fire trucks in debris, but it didn’t stop the Goodman fire crews from helping their community.
Since the tornado ripped through Goodman on April 4, fire crews have responded to six fires, said Fire Chief Keith Estes of the Goodman Area Fire Protection District.
Crews are operational and serving their community. Neighboring departments also are on board with assistance, he added.
In the aftermath of the tornado, fire officials released photos showing the two damaged firehouses — tangled messes of insulation, wood and wires.
Before the tornado, the air compressor was located on the fire station’s floor. But winds lifted the compressor 10 feet upward, then placed it on what little remained of the roof, Estes said.
The tornado damaged the main fire station, located on Main Street, as well as Station No. 2, which is located across the street. The Goodman Area Fire Protection District leases the building, which is a former bus barn, from the school district.
The tornado ripped the roof off Station No. 2, and blew in the
garage doors. Fire trucks were covered in wood and debris. Crews finished digging out the trucks last Friday. Estes believes that all the fire trucks are salvageable, unless insurance adjusters say otherwise.
“We have nicks, scrapes and bruises, but I think everything will be repairable,” Estes said.
Choice Puppies officials offered space at the back of their building for fire truck storage. A minimum of four fire trucks can be stored there, Estes said. The rest can be stored in a secure parking lot.
An area also has been offered for office space for the departmental operations.
“They are really taking care of us,” he said.
The tornado did not take down operations, he stressed. Emergency calls are dispatched by McDonald County 911 or Newton County 911, then sent to the fire department.
Crews flew into action to help in various ways after the tornado hit. Estes said his crew members made certain that equipment was secure, funneled to the fire stations to make sure the department could continue operations, while others joined response crews at the command center to perform search and rescue operations in the wake of the tornado.
Understandably, he and his crew members have been putting in a lot of hours, cleaning up, digging out and meeting with insurance adjusters.
Cleaning up fire stations has been mentally difficult, but something that crews literally have had to dig into.
“I’ve been very fortunate that it’s not as hard as I had thought. There are things that you naturally do, that you know that have to be done,” Estes said.
A good crew makes it much easier to start rebounding, including continuing to serve the community when calls come in.
“We respond,” he said. Cleanup efforts continue, and fire officials say fellow firefighters from several departments have pitched in. The quick and large response from neighboring departments was tremendous, Estes said. Estes had to decline help from some departments, due to the overwhelming response that night.
With the last fire truck dug out of debris, Estes said the department will likely rebuild. However, the board will have time to look at options, and not rush into a decision.
“I think we have the opportunity now to look at how the department has grown, and set out a path and look into the future,” he said.
While cleanup continues, Smokey the Bear is still on duty. The sign is located next to the firehouse. After the tornado, the land was ravaged and buildings badly damaged.
Smokey’s sign, however, remained standing and intact.