Trailer fire supply unites communities in hurricane relief efforts | News, Sports, Jobs

The trailer left the Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department Monday night, along with a trailer carrying Fire Chief Dave McCoy, firefighter Wesley Baxter and K9 Solace, when the trailer caught fire on Interstate 70 in Guernsey County between Old Washington and Cambridge.

They were dispatched at 11:23 p.m. and were on scene by 2:10 a.m., according to Antrim Community Volunteer Fire Chief Don Warnock, whose department responded along with the Old Washington and Lore City volunteer fire departments.

Warnock said he has a theory about the cause of the fire, but he’s not ready to reveal it right now because it’s just a theory, and he wants to look at the trailer during the day to see if he can figure out the cause of the fire. the cause, which he believed to be accidental due to possible equipment malfunction.

Firefighter Scott Smith of the Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department said Antrim firefighters seemed very nice and helpful and wanted to help however they could. Antrim firefighters talked about trying to collect items themselves in addition to what Calcutta firefighters were collecting, Scott said, and they felt bad about what happened.

Firefighters Bobby Brooks and Alex Fantome collect donations at Calcutta VFD Tuesday afternoon. (Photo: Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Warnock said he didn’t want the fire to deter anyone from donating, noting that residents in his community wanted to do something to help the Kolkata Fire Department’s efforts.

Warnock said he has a resident who is considering using a facility for a fundraiser and is willing to use his trailer to transport donated items to Asheville and would like to add that resident to the team from Kolkata when they arrive. region on Sunday.

Warnock posted on his Facebook page Chief’s Corner to inform Guernsey County residents that he had contacted Calcutta VFD and learned they had a semi ready to be loaded and would be holding fundraisers. He noted that if there is room in the semi-truck, the Antrim Community Volunteer Fire Department will be on call to help fill the truck when it arrives from Guernsey County. Warnock is concerned about the large number of donated items collected and the lack of a way to deliver them.

Smith said Murray Trucking donated a 53-foot truck with a trailer, which was parked at the fire station Tuesday afternoon to transport the donations to Asheville. The trucking team also provided a driver to head out with the truck on Sunday.

Smith also noted that only a small portion of the materials collected Monday were lost in the fire. Most of the donations were still at the station waiting for the second load to go.

Sara Mellinger of Calcutta and her son Preston Persohn unload diapers and baby food from AIM in Steubenville to donate to Calcutta VFD’s fundraiser for hurricane victims in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo: Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Although no collections were planned for Tuesday afternoon, many people showed up at the station with cars, SUVs and even a pickup truck full of items to donate.

Ergon, who has previously donated pallets of water, toilet paper, dish soap and other supplies, plans to make another larger donation, Calcutta Firefighter Alex Fantome said.

That’s what he thinks, said Deputy Fire Chief Shayne Hamilton, who left Tuesday night with Glenmoor Firefighter Dalton Simmons to drive to Asheville, North Carolina, and meet with McCoy, Baxter, Lt. Randy Schnieder of the CVFD and Ty Edwards of the Liverpool County Volunteer Fire Department. It’s surprising how donations poured in not only from Ohio residents, but also from residents of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Hamilton said this just shows how people will step up.

“We’re really proud of the community on this.” Firefighter Bobby Brooks, CVFD said.

“It’s nice to see another department doing something similar to help, especially after a loss like this.” Brooks said the Antrim Community Volunteer Fire Department was willing to help.

Preston Persohn in Calcutta gives a case of donated diapers to Glenmoor Firefighter Dalton Simons, while Calcutta Firefighter Alex Fantome sets out to collect more donations, and Calcutta Firefighter Bobby Brooks talks with Brian Shepherd, who donated new baby gates. (Photo: Kristi R. Garabrandt)

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Along with water crates, Kolkata VFD was also given much-needed baby items like cribs, bassinets, diapers and formula. (Photo: Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Health and hygiene supplies, including painkillers, insulin and inhalers, were donated to hurricane victims. (Photo: Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Supplies in one of the trailers headed to Asheville, North Carolina, to help tornado victims with smoke damage after one of the trailers caught fire. (Photo courtesy of Antrim Community Volunteer Fire Department Chief Don Warnock)

Calcutta Deputy Fire Chief Shayne Hamilton prepares a cot for himself and Glenmoor Firefighter Dalton Simons to sleep in while helping with hurricane relief efforts in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo: Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Murray Trucking provided Calcutta VFD with a 50-foot trailer truck to transport donated items to tornado victims in Asheville, North Carolina. A driver from Murray Trucking will be on the road with a truck loaded with supplies on Sunday. (Photo: Kristi R. Garabrandt)

At the Calcutta VFD, piles of dog food wait to be loaded onto a truck that will leave Sunday with relief supplies for hurricane victims in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo: Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Cleaning supplies, which are critical for Helene victims, are being collected by Kolkata VFD. (Photo: Kristi R. Garabrandt)