City Servants Commended

By Don Shearon First Published July 15, 1970Police and fire protection, and provision of electrical service, are taken for granted by most Fairburians, with little thought given to the personnel who make it all possible.There is perhaps no more important function of the tax dollar than seeing to it that Fairbury's police and firefighters are well trained and equipped to handle the emergencies which are their stock in trade.The firefighters, particularly, demonstrated their dedication to efficient performance one night last week, when the spectacular blaze engulfed a portion of the Hess propane plant east of the city. With valuable assistance from the rural fire district and from the Jansen and Daykin fire departments Fairbury firefighters contained the blaze to a relatively small area, and prevented what could have become a major disaster.While the firefighters tended to their own chores, members of the city's line crew repaired damage to the Jansen transmission line. When fuses on the Hess plants electrical system were knocked out by the blaze, fuses on the nearby Jansen line also blew. The line crew restored service with a minimum of delay.Unthinking but curious citizens often follow the emergency vehicles and frequently hamper the work of firefighters and police. Further, some motorists see no wrong in driving across a fire hose.This is not viewed sympathetically by police or firefighters and the offending motorist could find a judge equally unsympathetic.A case in point is an occurrence during the Hess plant fire. Motor vehicle damage to a fire hose that night cost taxpayers $90 for repairs. When the hose was damaged, it was necessary to cut and replace two 20-foot sections. At $1.80 per foot as the cost of the hose, purchased new, this repar job added up to the $90.Dollar expense aside, a damaged hose does not help firefighters in their hazardous task. A hose ruptured by driving an auto across it could mean the difference between saving a structure and its complete loss. In some instances, a human life could be at stake.The best advice we can offer is to stay away from the scene of a fire or other emergency, unless one has good reason to be there. And if one must be at the scene, caution is in one's self-interest. At the very least, it could save an offending motorist a trip to court and the consequences could be much more serious in loss of property or life.

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