05/29/2026
As firefighters, we expect to drop everything and leave our homes at the sound of a tone to help people during some of the worst moments of their lives. Today’s structure fire hit differently for our local department and for all of our mutual aid companies. Responding to one of your own team’s worst nightmares brings an even greater pressure to perform flawlessly.
Our firefighting family is an incredibly close-knit brother/sister hood, and today that bond was on full display.
I would like to sincerely thank all of our mutual aid departments and agencies for their support today. I apologize if I miss anyone, but thank you to Paris, Woodstock, Greenwood, Norway, Sumner, PACE, the Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Forest Service, who also responded to assist with a woods fire that was started by the incident.
The teamwork shown by everyone on scene was outstanding. Because of that teamwork, the fire was handled safely and the home was saved.
I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the employers who allow their volunteer firefighters to leave work and respond to emergencies in our community. Nearly every firefighter on scene today has a full-time job elsewhere, and without the support and understanding of those employers, departments like ours could not do what we do.
Thank you again to everyone who responded, supported, and helped in any way today.
— Chief Henderson