In the old days of fighting fire – before all the fancy protective gear – the firefighters would use their ears to gauge the heat.  When the ears started toasting up then it was time to retreat.  Now we have what’s called “nomex hoods” to protect our heads and face – excepting around the eyes.

The eyes would have to be protected by a mask.  But, even the areas that the nomex hood can protect are subject to toasting if the hood isn’t pulled over them.

Case in point?

Resident Firefighter Bryson Gann didn’t get his nomex hood pulled up over his nose during a recent wild land fire.  And the result?  For a few weeks he will be known as “Rudolph the Red-nosed Firefighter”.

Retired Fire Chief Ralph Green’s wife Nancy stopped by the fire station this morning.

She stopped by to thank EVERYONE for showing their respect for her husband at his funeral.

You will see how very much it meant to her after you listen to her tell you – in her own words – in the video link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6sVc3_cN0k

by Chief Steve Moody

My youngest son who lives in Manhattan, Kansas called at around 7:30 this evening.  He asked me if the winds were blowing in Butler County.  I told him “no.”

I asked, “Why?”  He said because the winds were blowing at a speed of over 50 mph in Manhattan – straight out of the north.

Less than 20 minutes later the Manhattan winds arrived in Butler County – all 50 mph of them.  And that was when the wild land fires started too.

As of this writing there had been TEN separate wild land fires – some larger than others.  And the crews are still out there and the winds are still blowing

The causes were multiple – some old controlled burns from earlier in the evening that got stoked up, others caused by arcing electrical power lines.

Fire crews from all across the county were out in full force.  Everybody was helping everybody.

Any fire carries a great deal of danger for firefighters.  Fires in the darkness of the night muliply that risk ten-fold.

So, say a prayer for the firefighters before you go to bed tonight.  And, say another prayer for the winds to die down – soon.