News

Texas Fire Departments Do Their Best for West

Matt Smith

09/26/2013

Firefighters from Briaroaks and Bono traveled to West on Sept. 10 to present donation checks to the West Volunteer Fire Department to assist both the department and victims of the April explosion.

On April 17, the West Fertilizer Co. exploded, killing 15, injuring more than 160 and destroying or damaging more than 150 homes and buildings. Most killed were West firefighters, in addition to firefighters and rescue workers from other departments.

Firefighters with the Briaroaks Volunteer Fire Department, who had already scheduled their annual fish fry fundraiser before the West explosion, felt the need to help the town, Briaroaks Chief Bryan Jamison said.

"It was just the moment of being a few days out after the explosion to when we held our fish fry," Jamison said. "We knew they were going to need all kinds of support, financial and otherwise."

Jamison said the members of Briaroaks VFD were "all over that" when it was proposed they donate part of the department's funds raised from the fish fry to West.

"We put signs out saying we were wanting to help West and got on Facebook," Jamison said. "Word spread like wildfire and we had the largest turnout we've ever had for our fish fry. We had probably three times the people and revenue coming in we get in a usual year. People who showed up were just so generous. It was an emotional time with the explosion having just happened. People wanted to help, but weren't sure how. I know when we were counting the money collected up afterwards we were just like 'Wow!'"

Briaroaks donated all $8,000 collected during the fish fry to West, and the department's board members voting to add an additional $2,000 to the total.

Briaroaks and Bono departments receive funding from the Johnson County Emergency Services District No. 1, which contracts with several county departments to provide fire and rescue service.

"We'll have to weather the storm a little bit because we count on that [fundraising] money to meet some of our needs," Jamison said. "We'll feel it a little, but figured [West] would feel it more if we didn't try to help them out."

Firefighters from BVFD, which holds a chili supper fundraiser each March, also decided to help.

"We'd had our chili supper in March, before the explosion, and hadn't decided what to do with the money we raised yet other than we had some expense on one of our trucks that went down," Bono Chief Ralph Vaquera said. "I called [Jamison] because I knew they were wanting to do something for West and we talked about that so we took the idea of helping West out to our members and they all thought it was a good idea."

Bono matched the $8,000 Briaroaks raised in their fish fry.

"We just appreciate all the donations," West Chief George Nors said Monday. "It's just been overwhelming for us all that everyone's done for the department and the city."

Donations go into two accounts, Nors said, one for the fire department needs and a special account benefitting the injured victims and their families.

"About 90 percent of the donations we've received have gone into the special fund," Nors said.

Jamison, Assistant Chief Kristi Kleine and firefighter/paramedic Bryan Dillon made the trip to West on Briaroaks' behalf. Vaquera, Roger Trussell and Keith Scarbrough did the same on Bono's behalf.

Presentation of the donations to Nors proved a bit comical, Vaquera said.

"Bryan gave [Nors] Briaroaks' check for $10,000 and, the expression on [department members] faces, they started giving us a standing ovation," Vaquera said. "But we said, 'Wait a minute. We're not done yet.' They thought the $10,000 check was from both departments."

Vaquera then presented Bono's donation check of $8,000.

"They were flabbergasted I think," Vaquera said. "They've gotten a lot of help from a lot of people since the explosion, and I'm sure they appreciate everything from the bigger cities too. But this was, they're down home people like us, and this was a volunteer to volunteer situation, a volunteer department brotherhood."

Even at that, the giving was not finished.

Hochheim Prairie Farm Mutual Insurance Association, which makes annual donations to Johnson County fire departments and other local organizations, sent along a $500 check to WVFD.

Vaquera answered yes and no when asked whether Bono's donation would hurt their department.

"A little maybe, but not really," Vaquera said. "We're funded through the ESD and we use the chili supper money but don't really count on it until after the fact because you never know how much you're going to raise on any given year. But we used that money for some of our expenses and the members voted to give the rest to West. We've also had a little bit of a lighter year than usual so our expenses haven't been as much. We just looked at [the donation] as a positive thing we did that's going to help some people out."

Briaroaks and Bono helped out the night of the West explosion.

"The county put all the Johnson County departments on standby," Jamison said. "They sent a response team, and we were ready to go. West ended up getting more help than they needed so we stayed here and helped cover calls for some of the other [Johnson County] departments."

Bono sent a four-man truck.

"We got there, but by that time they already had enough help," Vaquera said. "So we just staged to help direct some of the other vehicles coming in and stood by in case they needed our help. They had enough help though and all the Johnson County departments were sent back the next day."

Nors said he was injured at the blast site and out of pocket in the days following. His son stepped in to help coordinate department efforts in the meantime.

"We're just taking it day by day, week by week," Nors said of his department and the city's losses. "We've filled the vacancies in our department and we've had two guys with prior experience sign on. So many people have helped us and we're just so appreciative. We're getting there. We're coming back."