Residences need visible addresses, smoke detectors
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
Today was a quiet Tuesday for us as we were just puttering around our Polson residence when I went outside and noted the Polson Rural Fire Department at a neighbor’s house. They were knocking on the doors. Curiosity got the best of me so I started over to see if I could assist them. As I started across our property I could definitely smell something burning and so I continued on.
The firefighters, lead by Fire Chief Fairchild, were by that time knocking on several residence doors but without success.
As I walked in their direction it was then that a firefighter and I smelled a very strong acrid smoke. As we walked toward a neighboring residence it was obvious the problem was there.
Swift professional action was taken by firefighters to include finding a resident inside on a bed. They assisted that person out to fresh air and found the problem to be a pan left on a burner on the stove. That burner not been turned off. Had that situation progressed further we surely would have had a tragedy.
Several things came to mind as I witnessed firefighters perform their duties. Unfortunately we have heard fire personnel as well as other emergency service providers plead for residents to provide very visible posted addresses. The fact is that has not happened with a number of residences in Lake County. This not only hinders the responders but also creates tremendous stress on 9-1-1 tele-communicators.
The second thing noted was there were no working fire alarms in the house. This would have alerted the resident who at the time was sleeping in an adjacent room with the door closed. Had a phone call not awakened the sleeping occupant the results would have no doubt been devastating. Responders have witnessed first hand tragedies unfold because of the above stated reasons.
We are fortunate to have professional responders, in this case today the fire and ambulance personnel plus the dedicated dispatchers of Lake County. Thanks to all for their roles played in this matter.
Doug Chase
Polson
