Friday, October 26, 2012
A few hours ago, five area fire districts fought together to tackle a residential blaze in Wildwood. The firefighters involved would like to remind everyone to have their furnaces checked.
Firefighters responded to a house fire at 18501 Bucks Creek Lane in Wildwood at approximately 2:25 a.m. Friday. The first fire crews on the scene found heavy fire in a two-story structure, said Metro West Fire Protection District spokesperson Michael Thiemann. The family was safely evacuated from the structure after being alerted by smoke alarms, he said. "There were no injuries due to the fast actions from a neighbor whom called 911, and the working smoke alarms in the home” said Metro West Chief Vincent Loyal. The alarm was brought under control with crews from Metro West Fire Protection District, Eureka Fire Protection District, Pacific Fire Protection District, West County EMS & Fire Protection District, and the Monarch Fire …
Thursday, October 18, 2012
SSM St. Clare patient and Eureka resident reunite with Eureka Fire Protection District paramedics at hospital in Fenton to present Lifesaver awards Wednesday. The team stabilized four different heart attacks on the patient.
Eureka resident Todd Brown was having chest pains on Sept. 16. Eureka Fire Protection District paramedics responded to the 911 call. When the team arrived, they found Brown had gone into cardiac arrest. The paramedics quickly began CPR and defibrillated Brown, restoring circulation. Within a minute of the pulses returning, the paramedic team said they performed a pre-hospital EKG, and determined Brown was having a heart attack. They notified SSM St. Clare Health Center in Fenton they were 20 minutes out, and to activate the Cardiac Cath Lab. During the transport, Brown went into cardiac arrest two more times, being resuscitated and stabilized each time by the Eureka Fire paramedics. Upon arrival at SSM St. Clare, the Emergency Department …
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
When a driver said he was attempting to park on Central Avenue in Eureka Saturday afternoon, a different outcome occurred. At the time of the collision, several people were inside the building but none sustained injuries.
A 70-year-old Chesterfield resident said he was attempting to park a 2007 Mercedes-Benz in front of Michelle's Cafe Saturday afternoon after traveling north on South Central Avenue, just south of Boccardi Lane. Driver Harry Karagiannis told Eureka Police Department officers he inadvertently depressed the accelerator instead of the brake, which caused the car to lunge forward. An accident report indicates Karagiannis' car jumped over the concrete curb and onto the sidewalk—striking the metal table and chairs outside of the cafe's front windows. The car continued until it also struck the front of the restaurant's building. No one was on the sidewalk in the path of the accident, nor seating at the outside table at the time. There were people …
Monday, October 15, 2012
FIRST TIME EVER: Approximately 100 canine teams are expected to participate in this international conference. They arrived in Eureka Sunday, and are staying at the Wyman Center this week.
Eureka Fire Protection District's Search and Rescue Team members are hosting the 2012 Canine Search and Rescue Conference for the first time, which began with canine teams arriving into Eureka Sunday. The conference runs through Friday, and is being hosted at the Wyman Center in Eureka. The international organization for which the conference is organized is called Canine Search and Recovery, Inc. (CSAR). This entity was incorporated in the fall of 1996. The purpose of the organization is to provide training, networking and education for search dog handlers and to promote the increased use of search dogs in all aspects of detection, stated Scott Barthelmass, public information officer, Eureka Fire Protection District. Barthelmass told Patch…
Friday, October 5, 2012
Area residents may see local firefighters—and others—wearing pink this month. Want to buy a special shirt to help the cause?
Eureka Fire Protection District employees are promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout October by selling special-designed pink T-shirts for $20 each. Shirt proceeds are being donated to the St. John's Mercy Show Me Healthy Women Program and Susan G. Komen Foundation. Call (636) 938-5505 to inquire about the pink shirts. Eureka district inspector Sheila Frost said they have a variety of sizes to offer. "All you need to do is come in, pay and get your shirt." The shirts are only available at district's firehouse No. 1, located at 4849 Highway 109 in Eureka. On-duty firefighters also have a corresponding blue T-shirt that supports breast cancer awareness.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 7-13. This year’s theme is “Have 2 Ways Out." Remember the Great Chicago Fire? Take a quiz regarding current facts.
Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on Oct. 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on Oct. 9, 1871. Focusing on having an exit plan in the home or work place, should a fire break out, is the emphasis of the 2012 Fire Prevention Week, said Eureka Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Scott Mullins. Home and buildings could be engulfed in smoke and flames in just a few minutes, said Mullins, which is why it is important to practice exit strategies. Mullins and Eureka district inspector Sheila Frost, indicated this year's…
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Eureka Fire Protection District representatives will present what often is deemed the Hottest Rodeo of the Year Friday and Saturday nights.
The 20th annual Backdraft Rodeo once again will be held at Lions Park in Eureka at 7:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday. The first Backdraft Rodeo was held Oct. 13, 1993, and has been a community event ever since, said Scott Barthelmass, Eureka Fire Protection District spokesperson. See Eureka-Wildwood Patch coverage last year's rodeo: 2011 Backdraft Rodeo Packs Fans The two shows last about 3 hours each, according to the organizers. "From the kids actually chasing a calf for a cash prize and the barrel racing to the ultimate cowboy challenge of bull riding, it's good family fun and excitement," said Barthelmass. All competitors are actual cowboys and cowgirls making the rodeo circuit and competing for cash prizes and recognition. The …
Monday, October 1, 2012
See what equipment the Eureka Fire and Rescue group won as one of four grand prize winners in eight-state "thank you" program to community first responders. Eureka Fire Protection District received an honorable mention.
The stellar level of emergency service provided to Eureka and Wildwood residents just improved within the 100-mile area it spans. One company's managers truly know how important cellular reach is to emergency responders, and decided to donate their cellular signal boosting products and services to some of the most outstanding first responder agencies in rugged terrains. A Wilson Electronics mobile team is conducting the company's first-ever Giveback Tour to first responders in an eight-state region, and last week they made a notable stop in Eureka. Eureka's Fire Search and Rescue team was one of four grand-prize winners on Wilson's Giveback Tour 2012 contest. In addition, the Eureka Fire Protection Department was a honorable mention winner…
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Eureka Fire Protection District staffers will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, Sept. 28, from 2-6 p.m.
Eureka Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Randy Gabel asks for all who can participate in the district's upcoming blood drive on Sept. 28 to do so. The drive will be held from 2-6 p.m. Friday in the district's main conference room at 4849 Highway 109. Donors must be 17 years or older; those who are 16 years old can donate if they provide a parental consent form, which can be found online. Click here to schedule an appointment and enter the code EurekaFireProtection. Or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Walk-ins are welcome, but American Red Cross managers indicate appointments will take priority. Donors should be sure to have photo identification.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
This Eureka resident helps people at some of their most difficult phases of life; now it was her turn to be "lifted up."
Eureka resident Harriet Vaucher works part-time for the Eureka Fire Protection District, as well as part-time for Schrader Funeral Home. So she sees her share of people going through challenging times. But Vaucher offers encouragement and physical support, even serving on the Fire District's REHAB team that is called to the scenes of major accidents when firefighters are working and will need fans, heaters, food, drinks, or even chairs to keep up the fight. Vaucher is this year's Eureka Citizen of the Year. She has been a Eureka resident since 1956. She is active in her church. Vaucher and her husband, Don, both have served on the Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Team for the past five years. They respond to fire departments across…
Julie Brown Patton
4:51 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012
Thank you for providing encouragement, Stephanie. It sounded as though the house and its content were completely lost. Do you know if the family will accept donations? Is that something we all could be doing to help? Is the Red Cross helping them? more ›