We know that a large number of people were terribly inconvenienced by the extended closure of Hansville Road during an entire evening Feb. 8.
Once it was determined that no one was seriously injured in the crash that left a power-pole hanging precariously over the road with wires on the ground, there was little more firefighters could do and we turned the scene over to law enforcement and the power company.
You may have wondered what we would have done if there had been another emergency. There was, and our Kingston crews were able to respond through the scene to reach those that needed us, and our Hansville crew continued to respond to incidents on their side.
But what about the next time?
What if an earthquake or other catastrophic event strikes, and that road is closed for six days instead of just six hours? What’s your plan? Perhaps you’ve already added more water, snacks, warm clothing and blankets to the emergency kit for your car. You’ve made arrangements with your neighbors to care for your children and your pets in case you’re unable to get there yourself. Maybe you’ve been inspired to strengthen your home disaster preparedness kit and plan as well. We hope so.
If you’d like more guidance on preparing for disruptions of both short and long durations, contact us or refer to the checklists offered at www.kitsapdem.org.
– Free child car seat check: Make sure your children are riding as safely as possible. Stop by our monthly car seat check March 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Paul T. Nichol Headquarters fire station (26642 Miller Bay Road NE near Kingston).
– NKF&R firefighters climb high for charity: Our firefighters will do what they can do to save lives in a different way this month.
Though they’re always prepared to rescue people from burning buildings or revive victims of cardiac arrest or use hydraulic extrication tools to pluck car crash survivors from entrapment, in March they’ll put on their gear and climb the Columbia Tower’s 69 flights of stairs to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).
The society’s mission — to find a cure for these devastating cancers — is a cause that’s close to the heart of the department. Almost 15 years ago from the date of this year’s climb, NKF&R Firefighter/Paramedic Tom Kenyon succumbed to leukemia. The 32-year-old was a six-year veteran of the department and had just become a first-time father when he lost his second bout with the disease.
NKF&R Volunteer-Intern Firefighter Shane Seyboldt, 2012 team captain, was still in high school when Kenyon died, but his family suffered a similar tragedy. When Seybolt was only 3 years old, he lost his 8 year old brother to leukemia.
Though NKF&R firefighters have consistently participated in the stair climb since losing Kenyon, this is the first time in several years that the department has fielded such a large team. In 1998, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2819 sponsored a team in memory of Kenyon and raised more than $10,000 for LLS. The top fundraiser, Hansville’s Scott Spain, who retired as a lieutenant from NKF&R in 2005, brought in more than $5,000 alone. The 2012 participants are hoping to break that local record.
With a little less than a month until the event, the 10 members of NKF&R’s group have already raised $4,400 and are 17th overall in team fundraising. Seyboldt is one of the top 20 individual fundraisers.
Those wishing to support these hometown heroes can do so at the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb website. Firefighters will also be accepting donations when they hold a public practice for the big day at Kingston Albertsons March 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
– First Aid/CPR and AED training: Join us for this vital and potentially life-saving training on March 24, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Paul T. Nichol Headquarters fire station (26642 Miller Bay Road NE near Kingston). Cost is $40 per person. Must be paid in advance to reserve a place in the class. To sign up, call us at 297-3619.
