Firefighters respond to two calls

RITZVILLE - Chief Scott Kembel and half a dozen volunteer firefighters responded to a call at 203 West Cherry Avenue when a transformer on a power pole blew Saturday afternoon, April 24.

Neighbor Bruce Johnson, of 204 West Cherry Avenue said he didn't see it happen, but he heard it.

"It scared the heck out of me," said Johnson, adding his neighbor from 203 West Cherry Avenue came to the door and said she smelled smoke, asking him to call her daughter.

"I called 911," Johnson said.

Johnson said he was told by the firemen, "Every time we have a dry spell and then rain, transformers blow up."

"It happens a lot this time of year," fireman Bob Dew said. "When we have a dust storm, the dust settles on top of the wooden cross bar. The rain creates a static electricity on the wires on the cross bar, and smolders until it starts burning."

Dew said when a transformer blows, the old wooden cross bars are switched out with steel ones.

"But we still have a lot of wood ones left," Dew said.

Chief Kemble said the firemen would stand by until Arista arrived.

"We just make sure nothing else catches on fire, or no one drives under the downed lines. Basically we just babysit it until Avista gets here," Kemble said.

"This never happens in nice weather," Dew said as the firemen waited in the rain.

Avista spokesperson David Vowels said Avista became aware of the problem at approximately 3:45 p.m., and servicemen replaced the damaged equipment, which included a power pole and transformer. Vowels said approximately four customers in the area had a disruption of service.

Earlier in the week, volunteers were called out for a fire alarm in the Adams County Courthouse at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 21.

As courthouse employees waited safely outside, four volunteer firefighters checked out the building and soon determined it to be a false alarm in the records room.

Fire Chief Joel Bell, who was not on call as a fireman but happened to be across the street also ran over to check on the situation. Asked what may have tripped the smoke alarm, Bell responded, "In the area we live in, a little dust will set them off, and we have had a lot of big winds lately."

Bell said a second truck of volunteers was just about to leave the station when they got the "all clear."

"Our volunteer fire department is so fast to jump up and help their community," Bell said.