SADD Program

04/29/2005

Every other year, the fire department works with local EMS, police and SADD members to show local high school students what can happen if they drink and drive.

This year, students participated in the "mock" accident and afterwards, were presented with a court session held in the auditorium.

Multiple Runs Create Havoc

5/11/2005

Churubusco fire units were awakened early Friday morning for a possible house fire on Cook Rd, west of U.S. 33. Before units could even respond to that incident, a motor vehicle accident was dispatched to U.S. 33 & Carroll Road

First arriving units at U.S. 33 and Carroll Road found a southbound dump truck had collided with an abandoned vehicle on the side of the road, causing him to veer into northbound traffic and colliding nearly head-on with a northbound passenger vehicle. A female was pinned in the vehicle and was in serious condition. She was extricated from the vehicle in about 15 minutes and was flown to Parkview Memorial hospital in serious condition.

The two collisions caused the dump truck's fuel tanks to rupture and leaked approximately 100 gallons of diesel fule into a farm field.

Units from Churubusco Fire, Huntertown Fire, Whitley County Medic 21, Medic 11, Allen County Sheriff and Churubusco Police all responded.

In the meantime, fire units had to responded directly past the accident scene to assist Arcola and Washington Twp. fire departments with a house fire on Cook Road. Arcola units made an interior attack on the structure and within minutes, the fire was under control.

 

carroll Rd & U.S. 33 Accident

08/01/2007

At approximately 17:30 hours, units were dispatched to the intersection with reports of a "Signal 26, party pinned, one vehicle rolled over and Samaritan is on standby." First arriving units found two vehicles, none on their sides and no one pinned or trapped. Samaritan was stood down by EMT's from Medic 21 and firefighter's already on the scene.

As crews stabilized the female, a possible grass fire broke out underneath the heavily damaged Chevy Blazer. Units quickly extinguished the potential fire. But just as that serious situation was handled, the female's physical status appeared to be failing. Arriving Paramedics from Whitley County requested Samaritan to make the scene. Crews scrambled to find a landing zone nearby. It was decided that the helicopter would by landed on U.S. 33, just south of the incident. The female was then transferred to the helicopter and being reported as a condition "B". The male, who was driving a black car, was later taken to the hospital after pain in his leg was too severe.

Initial reports state that the female was traveling westbound on Carroll Road. The male had seen her stopped at the intersection and before he knew it, the white Chevy Blazer had pulled out into the roadway. Police are still investigating the incident.

 

Barn Fire Starts off busy day

08/01/2005

Thursday evenings car crash was the end of a busy day for Churubusco firefighters. In the late afternoon, units were dispatched into Noble County reference a barn fire. Crews arrived to find the exterior of a large barn, filled with hay, becoming heavily involved. Reports that the residents were already burning a large pile of wood from an older barn directly next to the exposure was the cause of the fire.

two structure fires

08/15/2005

On Sunday, August 15th, the department was called to the Johnson hog farm on 150 North, southwest of Churubusco. Assistant Chief Tadd Shively arrived on the seen to find light smoke showing. Interior crews entered the portion of the building that appeared to be on fire and encountered heavy heat and smoke conditions.

The main portion of the fire was located and extinguished very quickly. However, extension into the blown-in insulation in the attic and in the walls called for some heavy overhaul. Roof units, lead by captain Roger Bennett, removed pieces of steel roofing, while units on the ground removed the siding to expose burning embers.

The fire was under control within the hour, but the farm did lose several sows and piglets, due to smoke and fire.

Monday, August 16th, brought yet another fire in the early afternoon hours. Churubusco units were dispatched to the "Rapp Campground" off of Harold Road, with reports of a "704" mobile home and exposure problems. Whitley County Communications was also reporting to units that several power lines were down.

Captain Wayne Krider arrived on the scene to find a fully engulfed mobile home with wires down and severe exposure problems.

As with any volunteer department, daytime assistance is minimal at best. Monday turned out to be one of those days for the department. As two crews attempted to control the fully engulfed mobile home and protect the exposure, they suddenly found themselves trying to fight two structure fires with only two hose lines. Without warning, radiant heat had made it's way through a window into the second mobile home and flames began shooting out of the burnt out window.

Crews had to make forced entry into the second structure and found heavy smoke and heat conditions. As conditions worsened, Krider requested the assistance of Thorncreek Township and Union Township fire departments.

Both fires were under control within an hour, but an extreme amount of overhaul was required on the main structure fire, as 90% of it laid in a pile of burning rubble.

No injuries were reported at either incident. Churubusco police, Whitley County police and Medic 21 assisted at both fire scenes.