By Neil and Frances Maki, Andy Maki, Alan and Lesley Maki, Kevin Maki
The Maki Family would like to give a huge thank you to the Corvallis Rural Fire District, Hamilton City Volunteer Fire Department, Pinesdale Volunteer Fire Department, Ravalli County Sheriff Department, 911 Dispatch Center, Ravalli Electric Co-op and all first responders and neighbors that responded to a vehicular fire on the morning of December 18, which within minutes turned into large structural fires of two of our farm’s machine sheds.
Luckily, all involved were safe and unscathed.
It is doubtful that our house or historic barn on either side of the fire would have survived had it not been for the fire departments’ quick response time and total professionalism. There’s a real feeling of helplessness that goes with a couple of empty fire extinguisher bottles and a yard hydrant hose! Words can’t begin to describe the relief when the first water truck pulled in!
Upon talking with quite a few other people we have realized that vehicle electric fires are not as rare as we thought. Now seems like a great time to remind people to update and add to their fire extinguisher (and other safety equipment) arsenals (a fine New Year’s Resolution indeed)! Although we had and used fire extinguishers, they had to be retrieved from neighboring buildings which of course cost precious time! Had one been 150 feet closer maybe the vehicle fire would have been snuffed out for good rather than flaring back up again! Ideally we would have had a small fire extinguisher in the vehicle and a large one or two in the machine shed that the vehicle was parked in, because you never really know.
It turns out a least one local business even has a sale on fire extinguishers going on right now, so don’t delay. It might just be one of the best investments you will ever make!
With sincere thanks.