Victor Fire Department had a busy 24 hours last Wednesday after the huge lightning storm hit the valley. Actually, their run of calls began on Tuesday when they were called to provide assistance to Stevensville Fire Department on a structure fire on Mission Street in Stevensville. Victor Fire initially sent two trucks to help fight that fire. They cleared the fire later in the evening but were then called back at 3:30 a.m. when that fire rekindled, according to Fire Chief Scott Hackett.
Hackett said that at night, almost all of the volunteers who make up Victor Fire Department are available but most have to work during the day. So, when the lightning storm went through early Wednesday morning and ignited some fires, the department was somewhat shorthanded.
As the crew was returning from their second call to Stevensville, the alarm sounded for a small lightning strike up on White’s Ranch at the base of the Bald Hill, west of Victor. Five trucks responded to that.
And then they received a call of another lightning strike almost at the trailhead on Fred Burr on Deer Ridge Road. Hackett said that when he arrived at that one, there were flames about two feet tall and the fire was beginning to travel. The Forest Service was also called and then assisted on that fire.
“We were running out of people,” said Hackett. “In the middle of the day, it’s a struggle.”
Their next call was on Bell Crossing where there was a controlled burn. There is no open burning right now because of the high fire danger and so, the department put the fire out.
“It was contained but we didn’t want or need that burning,” said Hackett. “It’s too dry.”
But the calls kept coming. About 3:30 p.m., they were dispatched to a small fire on Highway 93 near Parts Unlimited. Hackett said they thought someone flicked a cigarette out. That fire was very small. Their final call of the 24 hour period was to a traffic accident at Bell Crossing and Highway 93. The road was blocked. Both vehicles were totaled and the occupants were transported to the hospital.
The department was able to handle these calls because of the dedication and training of their members, according to Hackett. He reminded everyone that open burning is closed.