A new feature of the 147th Whiteside County Fair focused attention on area Fire Departments. Whiteside County Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi described firefighters as “true heroes.”
There was a “Department of the Day,” with activities planned to inform and entertain the public, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Departments are based in Whiteside County, IL, unless noted.
- Tuesday, August 15, Fulton Fire Protection District–Fire Safety House
- Wednesday, August 16, Tampico, Prophetstown, Lyndon, and Erie Fire Departments–Auto Extrication Rescue
- Thursday, August 17, Sterling and Rock Falls Fire Departments and CGH Ambulance–Fire Extinguisher and Fire Truck
- Friday, August 18, Morrison Fire Department–Grain Bin Rescue
- Saturday, August 19, Clinton, and Camanche, IA, Fire Departments–Fire Safety House. Neither department appeared.
Fulton Fire Protection District had two firefighters at their interactive Fire Safety House display. They were First Assistant Chief Boyd Van Dellen, left, and five-year firefighter Bryce Assenmacher. Children toured Engine 2 and found their way to safety from the miniaturized home. Visitors used an extinguisher to “shoot out” a series of fires in a house, depicted on the Fire Safety Simulator board. Each child could take home a red, plastic helmet.
Tampico, Prophetstown, Lyndon, and Erie Fire Departments joined to rescue two of their own, by demonstrating auto extrications from two vehicles. Their illustrations were at 2:30, 3:30, 4:40, and 6:00 p.m. Two cuts each were made with the Jaws of Life, on a Dodge van and a Toyota car. All maneuvers took time and precision, including stabilizing the car on wooden beams, so it could be moved. Normally tires are deflated immediately. Numerous air bags are always problematic; they can inflate unexpectedly, harming confined persons and rescue members. Prophetstown Fire District includes three stations in Prophetstown, Lyndon, and Hoopole, IL, with 60 men in two counties. “All stations have engines,” stated Assistant Chief Gerald Armstrong. Funds are split between the stations and Prophetstown Ambulance Service. The PFD owns two Jaws of Life, which “cost about $20,000 each to replace. We back up Sheriff’s Deputies with traffic control.” Shown left-to-right are, back row, Seth Jones, Lyndon Firefighter; Jesse VanDeWostine, Erie Firefighter; Lyndon Captain Arian Landheer; Erie Fire Chief Doug Rutledge; Jack Trent, Erie Firefighter; Paul McCracken, Prophetstown Firefighter; Prophetstown Lieutenant Brandon Shaner; Daniel Shirley, Prophetstown Firefighter; Cody Morgan, Prophetstown Firefighter. In the front row are Dennis Martin, Hoppole Firefighter; Bill Jacobs, Jr., Prophetstown Firefighter; Conner Litterl, Prophetstown Firefighter; Assistant Chief Gerald Armstrong; Prophetstown Lieutenant Trever Richmond; Chris King, Prophetstown Firefighter.
Sterling and Rock Falls Fire Departments and CGH Medical Center did not attend. Only Sterling Deputy Chief Mike Dettman, below, was present, but he offered no program. He is part of the Twin City Joint Fire Command and is stationed in Sterling. The latter has a staff of 19 men, and the Rock Falls station has 13, under Deputy Chief William Milby. Fire Chief Gary Cook heads both departments. SFD is anticipating a new boat, which is being manufactured, and has specifications ready to buy a new engine. They have three now–an aerial, a tanker, and a brush truck–along with two utility vehicles. RFFD equipment includes two engines, an aerial, two tenders, and a Special Ops trailer for hasmat (hazardous materials) or other special rescue situations. Dettman’s father was a firefighter. “It’s in the family. Dad retired as a Captain in 1988, after 22 years.” Mike has served 28 years as a volunteer and career firefighter, 18 of which have been in Sterling.
Morrison Fire Department conducted dramatic corn bin rescues on the hour, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., using the Stateline Farm Rescue traveling display. Visitors could watch the efforts inside the bin on a television. MFS members are shown left-to-right after “saving” a willing fairgoer, Ron Callihan, from suffocation: Joe Bielema; Rob Hudson; Chief David Benters; David Brandon; Keith Wiersema; Wes Haan; former Morrison firefighter Devon Lewis; Rob Vegter. It was Vegter’s idea to feature Fire Departments at the Fair. Bielema stated, “Morrison is the only Fire Department with this equipment in the area, but other departments take rescue training.” The Grain Bin Rescue procedure uses the “Great Wall of Rescue” to isolate someone buried in the corn of a silo. Super-durable aluminum wall panels are pounded into the compacted grain to create a space around the victim(s). Rescuers bail grain that is close to the surface; then an auger sucks out remaining corn from this protected area. Without the pressure of the corn holding Callihan, he was able to be extricated in a matter of minutes by these skilled firefighters.
