During a time of crisis, it’s not unusual to see West Virginians coming together to help out each other, and the nation. Currently in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is doing their best to provide for the general public in whatever way is needed. Distilleries and breweries all across the nation and world are pivoting from producing spirits and beer, to producing hand sanitizer. It’s a very easy transition as far as the ingredients, but the actual production and bottling are very labor intensive tasks. Locally, the Appalachian Distillery located right outside of the Ripley / Fairplain area, is doing just that. Thanks to them, all of the Danville Volunteer Fire Department apparatus have a minimum of two bottles of hand sanitizer on them for use by our members while cleaning up from a call on scene. The CDC recommends washing your hands for a minimum of twenty seconds to prevent to spread and contraction of COVID-19, or a hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol content.

Once again, we thank the people at Appalachian Distillery for their commitment to the community in which they serve, and first responders. If you’re in need for some hand sanitizer, they’re selling the bottles for $1.50 a piece direct from the distillery. https://appalachian-moonshine.com/

In the fire service, we throw around the terms brother and sister nonchalantly. Today this could not be any further from the truth, as proved and witnessed by numerous fire departments from around the state and the communities impacted by the line of duty death of Mark Horwich.  Danville VFD was honored to be a part of the memorial and funeral today in Spencer.

Upon arrival, we were directed around the Roane County High School, and told to park with the other fire apparatus. Driving in front of the school, Clover VFD and Roane / Spencer VFD had apparatus draped in black to carry the body, and Roane County EMS had several ambulances lined up behind them. Coming around the end of the high school, we were ushered into the fifth row of apparatus. Five rows full of rescues, tankers, engines, squads, and everything else to pay tribute to our brother.

As the procession started we drove under a flag hung between two ladder trucks, with several firefighters and officers standing at attention saluting the procession. This is not unusual, however, the rest of the trip was a bit different. Every mile we drove towards the Clover station, there were people, young and old, standing outside in the pouring rain waving flags, holding a salute, and even crying as we drove by. People were stopped in the middle of the road, out of their vehicle holding salutes, to pay their tributes. Not people that had traveled to the area for this purpose, but locals. People caught in traffic. You could see everyone was just visibly shaken, and grieving with the loss of Mark.

To see the community come together like this, pay their tributes and not be deterred by the weather, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I can promise you that every single firefighter, EMS personnel, and law enforcement officer there saw you, and appreciated you. Thank you for your support, thank you for paying tribute to Mark, and thank you for being there for his family and friends as they try to make it through this troubling time.

From 2 March 2018 through 11 March 2018 four members of the Danville Volunteer Fire Department attended the 2018 Sissonville Fire School, receiving training in various rescue techniques and incident management skills.

Fires are usually the initial thought that people associate the fire service with, but in reality only five percent of calls for service actually involve a fire. Fire schools are a valued asset to the first responder community in West Virginia, allowing firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical services to be trained on improved skills and practices in their respective fields. Members received new certifications, and instituted them in mock training simulations that stressed implementation of the new techniques as well as interoperability.

Accomplishments

Engineer Charlie Sutphin attended a Night Time Automotive Extrication class, Firefighter Cody Gillispie attended Vehicle and Machinery Extrication Level 1 and Level 2. Engineer Gregory Hager attended Introduction to Technical Rescue where he earned his Wilderness Rescue Awareness, Vehicle Rescue Awareness, Machinery Rescue Awareness, Rope Rescue Awareness, and Rope Rescue Operations certifications. Squad Leader Roy Williams attended Swift Water Rescue Awareness, Critical Incident Stress Management, Traffic Incident Management System, and Commanding the Flood Response classes.

These advanced technical and rescue skills allow the Danville Fire Department to assist you, the community, with a quicker, more efficient, and safer approach to rescues. Continuing education is the backbone to staying ahead in an ever changing and rapidly evolving world. From technical rope rescues in the wilderness, to nighttime vehicle stabilization and extrication techniques, we are prepared to risk a lot to save a lot.

About

The Sissonville Fire School celebrated it’s twelfth year of training this year, and has been a staple of emergency services since it’s inception in 2006. This year, 111 agencies from West Virginia and Ohio were represented in the 589 pre-registered attendees. The classes ran the gamut from the basic Firefighter 1 class, a requirement of all new recruits, to technician level Hazardous Material response, and National Incident Management System 300 classes.

The DVFD would like to thank the West Virginia Public Service Training, the West Virginia University Fire Services Extension, the Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department, Sissonville High School, all the instructors and students for making the fire school a success!

Local videographer Kyle Woodrum, captured some great footage of Monday’s fire.  Thank you to Kyle, for letting us share this video.

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Last night was a long one for the 1 House, and our neighbors.  At just after 18:00 (6:00 P.M.), crews were dispatched to a reports of a fire on Main Street.  Crews arrived on scene finding heavy smoke billowing from the structure.  Firefighters on scene faced a hard battle to get the blaze under control, as the building was boarded up and in poor condition.

Six fire departments responded to the fire, including Madison, Racine, Spruce River, Van, Chapmanville, and Danville.  Crews fought back the flames through the night, keeping it contained to the original structure.  Surrounding buildings sustained minimal damage.  The cause of the fire has not been determined at this time.

The fire structure is a total loss, and should be avoided.  Falling debris is possible.  Crews were once again toned to the structure late this morning to extinguish some rekindled flames.

Special thanks to the American Red Cross, Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, Madison McDonald’s, Danville Gino’s, and other local businesses and community members that helped support crews on scene.