Post by pcartwright on Aug 17, 2006 16:32:35 GMT -5
(For those of you who have not heard yet here is a story from WNEP.
Fire Company will Rise from Ashes
Flames shoot from the Brady Fire Company in Ranshaw Wednesday.
Thursday, August 17, 5:12 p.m.
By Josh Brogadir
One day after a fire house was destroyed by flames in Northumberland County crews returned for the difficult talk of figuring out what was lost.
There are many questions unanswered about how the fire started at the Brady Fire Company near Shamokin and where the membership goes from here.
It took crews 15 hours to battle the flames and put out all the hot spots and now comes the challenge of coming to terms with the loss.
The epitaph for the destroyed structure could read, "Formed in 1908. Built in 1910. Destroyed by fire in 2006. Strong, dedicated membership not stopping anytime soon."
"This is a really tight group and we love this building and we loved what went on and everything in here. I'm 67 years old and I'm ready to cry anytime now," said fire company president Tom Sayles.
There's a reason the loss of the Brady Fire Company building is nearly enough to bring grown men to tears, though you may not know it from the front of the building. One look inside reveals the extent of damage.
The top floor got the worst of it. A desk, file cabinets and a pool table fell through the collapsed floor. The recently painted walls of a stairway are not white anymore.
There is no quick fix at the fire house, no easy way to clean up the mess. Many of the members realize that 98 years of memories are impossible to replace.
"I felt sick yesterday and I'm not much better today. Reality hasn't struck home yet. Of course I'm not alone, everybody here feels the same way," Sayles added.
Even the postman came by to pay his respects to the building and its members, because the people of Coal Township realize it's the guys they're thinking about, a tribute to the house is a tribute to the firefighters.
"It is, this is our member, 100 years old. This is like if you had a member 100 years and you lost it," said firefighter David Schoch.
"We'll be back. We'll have our 100 anniversary in the new building at the same time," Sayles vowed. "In the new zoning laws you need a three foot clearance on either side of the building and it probably wouldn't be able to get a zoning variance for it because the homes on either side are like a foot from the building."
The house may not be here in its original location anymore but the Brady Fire Company is not going away.
"We'll be like the phoenix rising out of the ashes. We're coming back. We have to come back. We owe it to the members and we owe it to the community," added Sayles.
Fire company records and documents are still inside in a place they can not get to.
The state police fire marshal is expected at the scene Friday to try to find out what started the devastating blaze.
Does your department have any equipment, or monetary donations that you can send to our brothers and sisters at Brady Fire Company? I am coordinating this effort and ask that if you have anything to donate please contact me at patrick@patrickcartwrightjr.com or 570-268-4188.
Patrick Cartwright Jr.
Chaplain
Towanda Fire Department
Fire Company will Rise from Ashes
Flames shoot from the Brady Fire Company in Ranshaw Wednesday.
Thursday, August 17, 5:12 p.m.
By Josh Brogadir
One day after a fire house was destroyed by flames in Northumberland County crews returned for the difficult talk of figuring out what was lost.
There are many questions unanswered about how the fire started at the Brady Fire Company near Shamokin and where the membership goes from here.
It took crews 15 hours to battle the flames and put out all the hot spots and now comes the challenge of coming to terms with the loss.
The epitaph for the destroyed structure could read, "Formed in 1908. Built in 1910. Destroyed by fire in 2006. Strong, dedicated membership not stopping anytime soon."
"This is a really tight group and we love this building and we loved what went on and everything in here. I'm 67 years old and I'm ready to cry anytime now," said fire company president Tom Sayles.
There's a reason the loss of the Brady Fire Company building is nearly enough to bring grown men to tears, though you may not know it from the front of the building. One look inside reveals the extent of damage.
The top floor got the worst of it. A desk, file cabinets and a pool table fell through the collapsed floor. The recently painted walls of a stairway are not white anymore.
There is no quick fix at the fire house, no easy way to clean up the mess. Many of the members realize that 98 years of memories are impossible to replace.
"I felt sick yesterday and I'm not much better today. Reality hasn't struck home yet. Of course I'm not alone, everybody here feels the same way," Sayles added.
Even the postman came by to pay his respects to the building and its members, because the people of Coal Township realize it's the guys they're thinking about, a tribute to the house is a tribute to the firefighters.
"It is, this is our member, 100 years old. This is like if you had a member 100 years and you lost it," said firefighter David Schoch.
"We'll be back. We'll have our 100 anniversary in the new building at the same time," Sayles vowed. "In the new zoning laws you need a three foot clearance on either side of the building and it probably wouldn't be able to get a zoning variance for it because the homes on either side are like a foot from the building."
The house may not be here in its original location anymore but the Brady Fire Company is not going away.
"We'll be like the phoenix rising out of the ashes. We're coming back. We have to come back. We owe it to the members and we owe it to the community," added Sayles.
Fire company records and documents are still inside in a place they can not get to.
The state police fire marshal is expected at the scene Friday to try to find out what started the devastating blaze.
Does your department have any equipment, or monetary donations that you can send to our brothers and sisters at Brady Fire Company? I am coordinating this effort and ask that if you have anything to donate please contact me at patrick@patrickcartwrightjr.com or 570-268-4188.
Patrick Cartwright Jr.
Chaplain
Towanda Fire Department