|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Chief |
|
Darryl Baker |
|
|
|
President |
|
Steve Mayer |
|
|
|
Contact Information |
|
|
|
Physical
Address |
|
90 Gloucester
Avenue |
|
Corbin, KY
40701-6113 |
|
(Pronounced gloss - ter) |
|
|
|
Mailing
Address |
|
PO Box 1210 |
|
Corbin, KY
40702-1210 |
|
|
|
Business Phone |
|
|
606-528-1700 |
|
fax
|
888-447-7609 |
|
|
|
Website |
|
www.westknoxfd.com |
|
|
|
Fire
Hazard Season |
|
Spring Season:
Feb. 15th
- April 30th
|
Fall Season:
Oct. 1st -
Dec. 15th |
|
|
Division of Forestry |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Auxiliary
Meeting |
|
The Last Tuesday
of Every Month
@
6:30PM @
West Knox Station 1
Next to
Old Lynn
Camp School |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
453.5625
FCC Forces a
Change...
In 2013 all two-way radios are required by the FCC to be
narrowband compliant. Since most of our radios are 10
plus years old, they are not compliant. We have to
replace 7 radios in our trucks, radios & pagers for 38
firefighters, a radio at both stations, radios at both
Laurel & Knox Dispatch and our repeater. Our cost is
going to be around $40,000. We have no choice but to
change.
We have been working with Laurel Counties CSEPP Director to
be included in some federal funding to help with these
funds. We have also just been awarded a VFA Grant that
will give us $5,000 toward this project. Senator Stivers
& State Representative Stewart have worked with our Knox
County Fiscal Court to secure $10,000 in coal severance
money that we will use toward this project.
The end result is that with all of the firefighters business
and money management skills, our community will not be
burdened with try to help fund a $40,000 project.
We will also be changing from VHF to UHF. Once we receive our new
frequency, we will post it here so anyone that wants to
listen to us, can. |
|
| |
Welcome to our
Website
The Day Our Worst Nightmares Became Real
 |
|
It was a beautiful
Saturday morning in March. Most people were just
getting their day started. Shortly after 9:00am
we were dispatched to a single family dwelling
that was on fire. We were advised that there was
no one in the residence. Our first unit arrived
on scene within minutes. He was told by
bystanders, they didn't think anyone was home.
There were no cars in the drive and no real
signs that anyone was home. When the first in
truck arrived, firefighters suited up with
breathing apparatus and began to make entry.
Within a minute of entry the nightmare began.
Details of the whole event
are way to hard to put on here. After
firefighters were done, they had brought out
five children (3 yrs & under), one adult male
and one adult female that was pregnant. None of
which had survived the fire.
During the process of
rescue and fighting the fire, it was clear that
our firefighters were letting the days events
take a toll on them. Frustration and anxiety
were replaced by wanting to be with our own
families. Not wanting to stay at the scene in
this nightmare was overruled by not wanting to
leave incase we could help the family in any
way. Friends and neighbors poured in from all
around the community. About two hours after the
nightmare started, about 200 people filled the
valley where we were. |
| |
|
We left the scene at a
little after 3:00pm and returned to the station.
Most of us sit around the station just talking
about what had happened. We were all just trying
to come to grips with such a horrible day. |
|
|
|
|
|
A few days after the fire,
we began to talk about what we might do that
could make such a tragedy like this less likely
to happen. We already go to school and talk with
the kids about fire safety. We go to Lowe's and
Wal-Mart when they have safety days. We try to
be active in the public promoting fire safety.
But somehow fire safety doesn't seem to stick in
peoples minds. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
So what are we
to do about this?
Well we do what we do best. We work harder and
become more persistent about it. And we come up
with a catchy new fire safety campaign that
people can remember. And so we announce the
birth of our "Give a Beep" fire safety campaign.
Give a Beep will start very soon in our
neighborhood and we will push others to jump on
board. You can check it out at
www.giveabeep.com.
And remember, it's just now being developed.
Starting a new campaign
like this would be tough without having the
support of some of those involved in the March
9th fire. We met with some of the family and
told them what we would like to do. It was such
a blessing to see their excitement for our
ideas. We all know there is no positive that
could come from the awful day. But to keep
someone else from going through the same thing
would mean the world to us and them. |
|
|
|
|
|
Give a Beep
The Give a Beep slogan was
the brain child of Chief Darryl Baker. In our
campaign, we will strive to get at least one
smoke alarm in every household in our district.
And if possible, we will take donations so we
can give them away. That's the thought behind
Give a Beep (smoke alarms beep). |
|
 |
|
The logo has an 8
incorporated in the B for the 8 lost in the
March fire. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fifty Years of
Serving our Community
This year marks the beginning
of our 51st year of service to our community.
West Knox Volunteer Fire Department was founded
in January of 1962. We have grown over the years
to provide many other services than those
offered from our start. Our original station,
Station 1, is at the end of the football field
at the old Lynn Camp School. In 2003, we added
another station, Station 2, in Laurel County to
help our ISO rating. We are working hard to add
a third station in Gray as soon as possible. If
you know of property available around Crossroads
Market, let us know.
|
|
|
|
|
