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digg itI hope that the town manager pays close attention to this fire and any investigation that comes from it. Further more I wish he had been listening to the scanner last night as the Wytheville fire department and volunteers struggled to put out this fire with trucks that are in desperate need to be replaced and the fact that the are only two trucks that are truely opperational and one that is in desperate need to be replaced since parts for it are non obtainable. The town manager said that there is no money to purchase a truck he would rather spend money on costly repairs that are frequent, so basically the department has to use faulty equipment which endangers the members and limits their capabilty to contain a fire. It also leaves them to call in help from other departments which are in a town half of wytheville’s size and has better equipment because the county is better at supporting them than the town is at support their own department. It’s nice to know that the new street sweeper that was recently determined as a need for the town, was not able to help them at all. What about the money that is billed to the companies when the FIRE DEPARTMENT cleans up a hazzardous spill, why is the money placed in a general fund used to purchase things other than fire department apperatus? Should the fire dept. not benefit from their work, or is it better spent keeping the new wellness center afloat? The brave men and women of the fire department both engineers and especailly volunteers risk their lives to save ours, and to save our property. Why should their lives be put at more risk using outdated, undependable, limited equipment because the town can’t seem to find the money for what they need. It’s not like the budget has not been seen by the town threw the paper or you can’t read or find the information on line. What happened to the way funds where handled by the previous town manager who was smart enough to place money each year aside to let it build to purchase a new truck every so many years so that when the old trucks became out dated and costly to repair a new one could be purchased keeping the fire department in top condition? I praise the county for keeping the other departments well equiped and reconizing the needs of the county fire departments. The town has even iqnored the recent evaulation that all the departments just had and the reports of what the Wytheville Dept. needed which stated a truck and even a fire house which is desperatly needed also. The town should be setting the examples instead of finding excuses.
Updated: Wytheville apartments damaged in fire
Wytheville Enterprise: News >
Thu Sep 18, 2008 - 08:14 AM
By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff
Four Wytheville families displaced by a fire Wednesday night at their apartment complex are seeking new homes. Through assistance from the Wytheville Redevelopment & Housing Authority, they are being lodged temporarily at a local hotel.
“We are looking for permanent housing for these families,” noted Randy Martin, the authority’s executive director. “All of our units stay full so we’re having to look elsewhere. We do have some two-bedroom units available but the apartments that burned were three bedrooms. The families have at least two children each, which makes it crowded in a two-bedroom apartment.”
Martin reported two families lost all their belongings in the fire while another family lost 90 percent of its possessions. A fourth family, he said, had smoke and water damage to most of its belongings.
Thursday afternoon Martin took the families shopping for clothes and shoes. He and his agency are collecting household items for them, too.
“We want to buy enough clothes to get the kids back to school,” Martin remarked.
According to him, residents of the apartment complex at 540 26th Street in Wytheville were ready for bed when the fire was reported at 10:50 p.m. Wednesday. They escaped in their nightclothes.
“We were there within 10 minutes,” Wytheville Fire Chief Ronnie King reported. “Flames and smoke were already coming out of the center apartment when we arrived. It was a rapid burning fire.”
Fifteen firefighters and three fire trucks responded. The Rural Retreat Volunteer Fire Department helped with the Wythe County Rescue Squad stationed at the scene.
King said two firefighters were slightly injured and treated onsite. One, he stated, suffered smoke inhalation with the other getting debris in an eye.
According to Martin, two of the apartment residents were transported to Wythe County Community Hospital because of smoke inhalation. One was treated and released with the other kept overnight.
“One of the families lost their dog to the fire,” Martin said.
Firefighters remained at the site all night. They returned to the station at 6 a.m. Thursday.
“It was a big fire,” King pointed out. “The buildings were built well. There was a firewall between the apartments. It took quite a bit to get the fire out.”
A fire marshal was called to the scene to determine the cause of the fire. He has not yet released his findings.
Also, damages have not been determined.
Martin said he is not sure of the future of the apartments, which were built in 1968. One of the options he is considering is razing the site and rebuilding on it.
In the meantime, Martin continues his search for new homes for his tenants.
“We take care of our people,” he stated.
Donations of new or used furniture in good condition are being accepted for the families. Items may be left at the authority’s office at 170 Hedgefield Lane in Wytheville.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .
