field fire - civilian injured

04/24/2008

On Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 2:13 PM, the Smith Township Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a field fire with a person burned at 17409 McDufee Road, 1 mile east of Churubusco.

On arrival of Chief Bennett he found approximately ½ acre of grass burning in a wooded area and next to a single story house and small barn.

Upon further investigation he found the property owner had set a small trash fire that spread to the dead grass and leaves. Also he found the property owner suffering from second and third degree burns to his lower legs, feet and left hand which the owner received while trying to extinguish the fire.

The fire was confronted and held from extending to the structures and the rest of the large wooded area by the aggressive efforts of the responding fire crews. The property owner’s burns were treated by Whitley County EMS Medic 21 and Medic 12 and transported by ground ambulance to St. Joe Hospital Burn Center for further treatment.

Head-On Collision

03/22/2008

On Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 PM, the Smith Township Fire Department responded to the report of a two vehicle head-on crash in front of 3171 North U.S. 33, 1 mile south of Churubusco.

Chief Roger Bennett was first to arrive on-scene and found a Chrysler Convertible and Buick Sedan in a head-on motor vehicle accident. The occupants of the Buick were setting on the side of the road complaining of minor injuries. The driver of the Chrysler was pinned in the vehicle suffering from serious lower leg and head injuries.

First arriving rescue crews deployed the Jaws of Life to remove the driver’s door and roof. Rescue crews then had to use the hydraulic ram to lift the dash of the car off of the driver’s legs. The driver’s condition was determined to be serious, so the Parkview Hospital Samaritan Helicopter was called to the scene. It took rescue crews 20 minutes to extricate the driver.

The patient was taken to Medic 21 on-scene while crew’s set-up a landing zone for Samaritan in a near-by commercial area, the patient was then transported by Samaritan in serious condition to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. The occupants of the other vehicle were transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital in stable condition.

Serious Injuries From Accident

03/15/2008

On Saturday, March 15th, 2008 at 1:02 PM, the Smith Township Fire Department responded to the report of a rollover motor vehicle accident at the intersection of State Road 205 and Johnson Road in Collins.

Chief Roger Bennett was first to arrive on-scene and found a Chevrolet S-10 Blazer on its driver’s side with the driver partially ejected through the drivers side window. Numerous by-standers had stopped and were holding the side of the vehicle off of the ground to keep it from crushing the drivers head.

First arriving rescue crews deployed the Jaws of Life to help hold up the vehicle and remove the driver from the vehicle. The driver’s condition was determined to be serious, so the Parkview Hospital Samaritan Helicopter was called to the scene. The patient was taken to Medic 21 on-scene while crew’s set-up a landing zone for Samaritan, the patient was then transported by Samaritan in serious condition to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Attic Fire Causes Damage

03/05/08

On Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 at 3:09 AM, the Smith Township Fire Department responded to the report of a fire coming from the roof of a residential structure at 426 North Line Street, in Churubusco.

Churubusco Police Officers Chad Fulkerson and Tony Helfrich were first to arrive and reported a large two story residential structure with fire and smoke coming from the roof of the structure and that occupants were still in the structure. Chief Roger Bennett then arrived on-scene and assisted the Churubusco Police Officers in getting the residents out of the structure. After helping remove the residences from the structure Chief Bennett entered the structure and found no fire or smoke in either the first or second story of the structure. More...

Home Destroyed By Fire

03/04/2008

On Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 1:36 AM, the Smith Township Fire Department responded to the report of a fire in a residential structure at 4214 North 450 East, 4.5 miles west of Churubusco.

Chief Roger Bennett was first to arrive and reported a single story residential structure with heavy fire and smoke coming from the structure and that all occupants were out of the structure.

First arriving fire crews deployed fire attack hand-lines into the main floor of the structure, as additional fire crews arrived on-scene and assessed the need for ventilation and additional fire attack hand-lines. More...

injured firefighter out of hospital

02/14/2008

We are pleased to report that captain, Chris Tomlinson, is safely at home from the injuries he sustained in a house fire Tuesday evening.

Tomlinson suffered a spinal injury after he was struck by falling debris and was taken to Parkview Memorial hospital in serious condition. He and two other firefighters were standing in what they believed was a safe portion of the house when "It came down unexpectedly," said Chief Bennett. All firefighters were wearing their protective gear. One firefighter reported no injuries and the other was checked by medics on the scene but declined treatment.

In the early morning hours of 02/13 Tomlinson went through a procedure called Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

He has started a small time line and/or journal of the events here.

attic fire

02/12/2008

Only 1-hour after returning from Huntertown on a house fire, Churubusco units were called to the 6900 block of U.S. 33 on an attic fire. First arriving units arrived to find heavy smoke pushing from the roof and a homeowner outside spraying the flames with a garden hose.

Interior crews found the seat of the fire in a wall behind the fire place and made quick work of extinguishing the fast moving blaze. Thorncreek Twp. units arrived to help with salvage and overhaul operations.

One firefighter was seriously injured when debris fell on him and two other firefighters standing nearby. More....

house destroyed by fire

02/12/2008

Churubusco units were called in to assist Huntertown Fire on a structure fire shortly before 5:00 p.m. Tuesday evening. First arriving Churubusco units entered the first floor of the structure, while a crew from Huntertown fought the main cause of the blaze in the basement. Further assistance came from other arriving Churubusco units and Washington Twp. fire department.

The house received very heavy smoke and water damage. The cause is still under investigation.

minor house fire

01/24/08

Churubusco units were called to the 600 block of West Whitley Street with a report of a possible house fire around 3:00 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Fire Chief Bennett and assistant chief Krider arrived to find smoke coming from the house and radioed a "working house fire". Because day time help is always at a minimum, chief Bennett radioed for a full response from LaOtto to assist.

Crews entered the 2-story structure to find heavy black smoke throughout and a smoldering pile of wood and plastic near the fireplace hearth. The burning wood and other objects were removed from the structure and the carpet that had ignited was extinguished along with the fire still burning in the fireplace. LaOtto units were then given a disregard and interior crews checked for extension while exterior crews checked for the same thing.

The house received heavy smoke damage and minor fire / water damage.

The home owner was checked by Whitley County Medic 21 for possible injuries sustained from being inside the home at the time of the fire.

cold keeps department busy

01/19/08

The recent arctic air blast in the area kept the Churubusco Fire Department busy all weekend long.

It started Saturday morning around 8:30 a.m. when a pickup truck hauling a modified open wheel race car veered off the road and crashed in a ditch. Diesel fuel and possibly racing fuel were leaking from the vehicle, but no immediate danger was present when firefighters investigated further.

Units were then called to assist Huntertown Fire on a fully engulfed attached garage fire in Homestead Acres. Shortly after completing their assignment, the crew from Pump 201 were asked to stand-by at Huntertown's station. But the Churubusco's day wasn't quite finished.

At approximately 13:30hrs, Arcola was sent on a chimney fire on O'Day Road. A crew standing by at the station responded in Pump 203 as well as the crew in Huntertown. This fire was very moderate compared to the Huntertown fire.

Finally, late Sunday night Churubusco units were called to stand-by for Noble Township reference a working house fire. Shortly after being put on stand-by, they requested a pump and five men, plus a tanker respond to the scene.

During extreme temperatures, fire departments will often call for extra personnel to help keep firefighters from injuring themselves due to the weather. Fire departments also see a heavy increase in emergencies during these extreme weather conditions.

minor barn fire

01/15/08

Churubusco units were called to assist LaOtto with a barn fire on 450 South at approximately 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning with water supply and manpower.

Crews were sent inside to assist with the removal of a large pile of hay bales that had ignited, possibly from a heat lamp used to keep animals in the barn warm.

Some farm animals were seriously injured or perished in the fire, but damage to the barn was minimal.

Churubusco units cleared at 9:30 a.m.

Firefighters Help with flooding

01/08/08

Overnight rain caused sever flooding all over northern Indiana, with some of the hardest hit areas northwest of Churubusco. Two children and a male subject are believed to have died in separate incidents due to the flooding.

Churubusco and surrounding townships were lucky to escape any fatal incidents, but homes across the area were severely damaged or in peril as the waters rose.

Firefighters were called to assist town employees with sand bagging at approximately 5:30 a.m. and were assisted later by the Department of Corrections personnel and even a local citizen who stopped by to offer her services.

Crews then traveled throughout town unloading the bags and helping with pump water from yards.