Neighbor lost barn today

[cowboyup]

Today while I was running tractor I saw smoke start across the highway. I called my friend who lives there to see if he was burning something and he said to hurry his barn was on fire. I made it in about five minutes and when I got there the whole barn was engulfed in flames. I helped him get some horses out of some pens next to it and move equipment away from the corrals. Our local fire department showed up and instead of trying to save some outbuildings they were arguing about where to park the fire truck. So we started cleaning out a tool shed that was so hot the old paint was bubbling.one of us soaking it with a garden hose while others drug tools out. We managed to save it and finally the fire department managed to get some water going and save a big pile of corral rails.
This barn had been built late eighteen hundreds so it was a shame to see it burn but the real loss was he lost one dog with thirteen pups, a calf and all his tack. He doesn't even have a single halter left and lost a custom built saddle that his wife got for him for their wedding a year and a half ago. Then the people he works for[same people I rent from] showed up and informed him that their insurance wouldn't cover his personal effects. His wife told me that they have renters insurance so I guess we will see what happens.
Nobody was around when the fire started so we have no idea what caused it but it took less than an hour to reduce it to glowing embers. Was really tough to see the hurt on his face because even though he tried he couldn't save his dog and pups.

Our fire department has a perfect record though...



they haven't lost a foundation yet.

 

[Team1roper]

I am really sorry to hear that
That is always our fear where we live, we have a volunteer fire dept and the time it takes for them to get there could be way to late

 

[kolanuraven]

We've got the same Fire Dept!!!! Crazy neighbors set a pine thicket on fire last fall .

" Ding...ding...ding" here comes the FD and before the night was over they managed to burn another house and 30 more acres!! They waited till they got to the place to find out the water truck was about half full and the nearest water was at least 8 miles away!!!!

I just upped my insurance cause I know not to count on them as I'm so far out in the boonies. And insurance will cover a total loss easier than it will water damage!!

 

[ranchwife]

sad to know that with the insurance that those rather wealthy landowners have that their insurance would not cover the lost personal affects of his!! :???: :???: I hope that they will make a personal attempt to help him and his wife out with their losses since he is a super worker!! Real sad about the pups being as he was already trying to find them GOOD homes!!

 

[Mrs.Greg]

That is so sad,fire is such a devastating loss.We have two small towns with volunteer firefighters but they are well trained.I really feel for your friends!

 

[Cowpuncher]

We have the same problem with the volunteer fire department being 25 miles away and unmanned. When a call comes in, they have to have someone go get a fire truck and then to the fire which likely would be an hour in our case.

One day last year, we had seven grass fires in one day due to dry lightning.

Our solution was to buy our own fire truck. We picked up an old fire truck with a 750 gallon tank on ebay for $2100. Neighbor has been fiddling around fixing it up and it is just about ready to roll. The fire department is delighted to have this equipment kept on our end of the county and they are planning on using our equipment in the future - which is allright with us.

Our truck is a pumper which has a sprayer on the front bumper and a 200 foot hose with a ton of pressure. It can suck its 750 gallon tank full of water from a stock tank or pond in about 5 minutes.

Unfornunately, we are the only ones who knows where to get the refill water.

 

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Our volunteer fire department really tries to be "on the ready" every thursday evening, they have a lil pot luck dinner, and crank all the trucks, drive em around town a lil bit to make sure the batteries stay charged, etc.....make sure all the tanks are full....it's just that when they do get a call........someone hasta usually go find the fire chief to open the fire dept up he's the only one with keys to the doors. If he can't be found, it's too bad. Good thang that when the call goes in, it's answered in a neighboring town that also has a volunteer fire dept, that will respond. Most times two other counties show up.......before our own gets there.
I've been sayin for years, instead of havin keys in one mans pockets, they should put combination locks on the doors that all the guys can memorize. That way, it wouldnt depend on if they can find the fire chief.

 

[Angus Cattle Shower]

Our volunteer fire department really tries to be "on the ready" every thursday evening, they have a lil pot luck dinner, and crank all the trucks, drive em around town a lil bit to make sure the batteries stay charged, etc.....make sure all the tanks are full....it's just that when they do get a call........someone hasta usually go find the fire chief to open the fire dept up he's the only one with keys to the doors. If he can't be found, it's too bad. Good thang that when the call goes in, it's answered in a neighboring town that also has a volunteer fire dept, that will respond. Most times two other counties show up.......before our own gets there.
I've been sayin for years, instead of havin keys in one mans pockets, they should put combination locks on the doors that all the guys can memorize. That way, it wouldnt depend on if they can find the fire chief.

I cabn't figure otu combination locks. lol.

 

[Denny]

Our volunteer fire department really tries to be "on the ready" every thursday evening, they have a lil pot luck dinner, and crank all the trucks, drive em around town a lil bit to make sure the batteries stay charged, etc.....make sure all the tanks are full....it's just that when they do get a call........someone hasta usually go find the fire chief to open the fire dept up he's the only one with keys to the doors. If he can't be found, it's too bad. Good thang that when the call goes in, it's answered in a neighboring town that also has a volunteer fire dept, that will respond. Most times two other counties show up.......before our own gets there.
I've been sayin for years, instead of havin keys in one mans pockets, they should put combination locks on the doors that all the guys can memorize. That way, it wouldnt depend on if they can find the fire chief.

Why don't they make up some extra keys.

 

[CJ]

.it's just that when they do get a call........someone hasta usually go find the fire chief to open the fire dept up he's the only one with keys to the doors. If he can't be found, it's too bad.

It was that way here years back. One night there was a fire and the fellas house that was involved hooked a log chain on the old wood door at the fire house and pulled it off the building so they could get the truck out. There was a big stink about him having done it, but he got his point across. There was a lot more keys passed out after that. :idea:

 

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

now there's a thought...........rip the doors off and off to fight a fire LOL


I have no idea why they won't pass out more keys, half the guys in and around town have been volunteers at one time or another, it's not like anyone around here that's been here for any length of time is gonna try to steal a fire truck........

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

Did you guys here about the big fire at the chemical factory? All the trucks were afraid to move in close to fight the fire. The President of the plant offer $50,000 to the unit that could put out the fire and save the formulas. Along comes this old fire truck rolls right up to the factory the crew jumps out and fights like crazy. they put the fire out. When the president asked them what they are going to do with the money they get for saving the factory they tell him . A new Fire truck with Brakes that work :!:

 

[Angus Cattle Shower]

Did you guys here about the big fire at the chemical factory? All the trucks were afraid to move in close to fight the fire. The President of the plant offer $50,000 to the unit that could put out the fire and save the formulas. Along comes this old fire truck rolls right up to the factory the crew jumps out and fights like crazy. they put the fire out. When the president asked them what they are going to do with the money they get for saving the factory they tell him . A new Fire truck with Brakes that work :!:

Wasn't it ukrainians :cough, haymaker: and a sausage factory?