5-05-10
Winfield Foley Fire responded to a structure fire call on John Brown Lane in Winfield on Tuesday, May 4th at approximately 2:32 p.m.
Fire Chief Bill Byram was first on the scene and reported that the home was showing smoke and fire from one side of the house. Chief Byram then instructed Lincoln County Dispatch to request mutual aid from Old Monroe Fire, Troy Fire and Elsberry Fire Departments. Later additional manpower was requested to assist in the efforts.
One firefighter was taken from the scene by Lincoln County Ambulance District to Lincoln County Medical Center and was treated and released.
The home was unoccupied at the time and sustained major damage.
9-24-09
WE GOT IT !
Chief Bill Byram of the Winfield Foley Fire Protection District received the call on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 11:07 a.m. from U.S. Congressman Todd Akin’s office informing him that they received the 1.2 million dollar new fire station grant awarded though FEMA’s Department of Homeland Security.
The District applied for this first time ever grant in June of 2009. Winfield Foley was one of four grants awarded to fire districts in the State of Missouri. FEMA received over 6000 applications for new stations or enhancement request for established stations. The scoring was based on; facility needs financial need, cost benefit and daily operation need. Through a lengthy process of technical review, peer review, narratives and audits, Winfield Foley was able to supply all necessary paperwork. Chief Byram said “It was a teamwork effort that got us though the application process and everyone involved should be proud of their support”. Approximately 100 grants will be awarded throughout the 50 states for a total expenditure of $210 million dollars.
The new station will be construction on E. Hwy 47 across from the High School. It will have 3 drive through bays and a half bay. The station will also allow for sleeping and living quarters for firefighters. Emphasis will be placed on ‘green aspects’ in the design phases. The current plans for the existing Winfield Station are to keep it remaining in service with at least one piece of operational apparatus.
Winfield Foley currently has two stations within the 100 year flood plan, one in Foley on the west side of Hwy 79 and the one in Winfield on the eastside of Hwy 79. During the last 3 major floods, both stations became inoperable. Chief Byram and the officers and Board Directors knew the need existed for a new station and took full advantage of this grant. Chief Byram said, “Over a hundred hours of volunteer time was put into the research and development of this grant and without the help of those firefighters and Board members, we would not have been considered”. Letters of support were faxed to the FEMA representative in Washington DC by members of the Winfield 20/20 Long Term Community Recovery Committee, Eastern Lincoln County Economical Development members, City, State and Federal Government Elected Officials and Community residents.
The new station will not only be geographically anchored to best serve the eastern part of the district but also prove to be invaluable to mutual aid for surrounding departments.
Chief Byram will release further information once the final grant directives have been issued. Future updates will be put on the districts website www.wffpd.org.
Submitted,
Chris Azar
092409
5-20-09
Winfield Foley Firefighters honored at Training Banquet
Winfield Foley Firefighters were honored at a training banquet held at Woods Fort Country Club in Troy on Saturday May 16, 2009.
Missouri State Representative Ed Schieffer began the banquet with words of encouragement to the volunteer firefighters and their guests. He spoke of family and the importance of the volunteer firefighters to the community.
The invocation was then given by Chris Azar with a blessing of all firefighters, their families, the meal and also a moment of silence for all firefighters who lost their lives ‘in the line of duty’. Dinner was prepared and served by Calvin’s’ of Woods Fort.
Donna Forgy of Proskills Inc. was the skills instructor at the banquet. She presented a well received program dealing with the need of positive attitudes and good communication skills within the fire service and when dealing with the public. Ms. Forgy lead the group in several group exercises and gave facts and figures relating to volunteer firefighters in regards to their profession.
During the awards sessions a special recognition award was presented to William R. Cheeseman for his 20 years of service and support to the District. Cheeseman spoke about how the district was first formed in 1990 by the voters and how Winfield Foley was the first tax based fire district in Lincoln County. Cheeseman said he was honored but the real award should go to the volunteers who so passionately give their time and support to the department.
Chief Bill Byram and Assistant Chief Cory Swafford were presented by the Board of Directors with white helmets and congratulated on the department’s performance within the last year, with special recognition for the efforts during the 2008 summer floods. The Board congratulated Byram and Swafford on their management style and emphasis on safety and training. Byram and Swafford then recognized with plagues Station 1 Captain Matt Hansen and Lieutenant Chuck Garver, Station 2 Captain Mark Hasten, Station 3 Captain Dean Zerr and Lieutenant Ricky Anthony, and Station 4 Captain Mark Peter and Lieutenant George Gnade for their leadership efforts to the firefighters and community.
Chief Byram then spoke about the firefighter of the year award. He explained that the firefighter was nominated and chosen by his peers and sanctioned by the officers. After a brief moment, Byram announced the Firefighter of the year for 2008 went to Tim Ens. Ens received this award in recognition of constantly going beyond the call of duty, his dedication to the department mission and goals and his vision for the department. He recently redesigned the webpage, has worked on the Station 3 remodel, and attends as many calls and trainings as time allows. Firefighter Ens received a standing ovation while receiving his award.
The Board of Directors thanked the firefighters with token gifts for their efforts and spoke about the additional expenses incurred by each firefighter and their families during their service with the district. They offered their appreciation for the volunteer man hours that go into running a large department. The Board was also presented with a small gift from the firefighters. The Junior/Cadet program Captain Mark Peters awarded personalized pictures and t-shirts to each member and congratulated them on their 2nd and 3rd place event wins at the state convention at Warrenton in early May 2009.
The Board members, secretary Susan Graeler, and firefighter spokesperson Anita Hasten then awarded Office Manager Chris Azar with gifts to note her 25 years with the department. Mrs. Hasten spoke of how Mrs. Azar was always willing to assist firefighters and their families and her support and efforts for the community. Azar received a standing ovation.
Chief Byram then thanked the Banquet committee members Chris Azar, Kellie Azar, Tina Ens, Dawn Garver, Kathy Greber, Anita Hasten, Jeriann Peter, Shelby Rowland, Christy Swafford and Penny Zerr. The grouped emceed by Christy Swafford then gave out attendance prizes which were warmly donated by area businesses and groups. NTunes DJ’ed the next 2 hours while the firefighters socialized. The banquet was largely financed through donations. A list of all firefighters can be found on the district website www.wffpd.org.
3-19-09
LINCOLN COUNTY, MO (KTVI FOX2now.com) – A massive flood, heavy wind, a devastating fire, and now a fight. One Lincoln county family has been through more natural disasters in the last nine months than some people experience in a lifetime. But the family is being tested by a man-made frustration now.
“Friday the 13th’s aren’t bad. If you’re superstitious, it’s Saturday the 14th’s,” says Justin Goist. And when you hear Justin’s story, you might agree that it sounds as if they carry a curse.
Saturday June 14, 2008 the Mississippi River was bearing down on Winfield and it was time for Goist, his fiancée Andrea Gray, and their four year old daughter Delayne to move.
“Within an hour we had 10 trucks, seven trailers and 30 people down here, basically stacking and going,” says Goist.
Everything went to higher ground, to a friend’s empty house, and for a week straight Goist, a volunteer firefighter in Winfield, worked for his town, sandbagging and repairing the very levee that would eventually give way, even saying no when the National Guard wanted to sandbag his home for him.
“No, I couldn’t do that,” says Goist. “You know if the rest of the town’s gonna get flooded we’re gonna get flooded too.”
They did.
“We were sitting right in front of the house in his truck, watching the water lap through the front door and we looked at each other and thought, ‘We’ll get through it,’” says Goist’s fiancée Andrea Gray. “I never thought seven inches of water would cause this much havoc.”
A check from flood insurance came fast, but then, came February 14, 2009.
“We had to raise the home and permits took forever. Getting paperwork from the right places is like a merry go round. You start at one side, go around and go back to the other side because they didn’t supply the right information,” says Goist.
“But we finally got out here and started working 10 or 12 hours a day, sun up to sun down, whatever the weather, we were out here freezing or sweating, getting a ton of work done on the house and then, bam, Saturday the 14th again, more bad news,” he says.
The home where they had stored their belongings burned to the ground. Everything they saved from the flood they lost in the fire.
And there was still another natural disaster.
“Oh yeah, wind,” says Goist.
Gusting wind shifted the home they had just raised from its new foundation.
Goist and his fiancée wish it would all stop, but it won’t. Now their insurance company says because their belongings were stored somewhere else, they are not covered from the fire.
“We found out yesterday we are only going to get 10 percent,” says Goist. “So out of the $50 thousand worth of coverage, we’re only getting $5 thousand to replace everything that was in the house.”
Goist and Gray plan to hire an attorney.
“The only reason we’re still fighting is for our four year old daughter,” Goist says. “She constantly asks, ‘The Mississippi River came and flooded our house, but when do we get to go home?’”
“That makes me want to push forward and get going and get it done, get back in,” says Goist
There is a benefit for Goist, Gray and their daughter May 8 at Trigg Banquet Center on O’Fallon, Missouri. There is also a benefit account set up at People’s Bank and Trust in O’Fallon.
Copyright © 2009, KTVI-TV
2-18-09
Winfield home destroyed by flames
Authorities investigating two suspicious fires in area
The Winfield-Foley Fire marshal’s office says two separate fires breaking out within hours of each other in the Foley area are suspicious and are being investigated.
The first fire began just before midnight on Sunday, Feb. 15 at the home at 145 Eagle Ridge Lane off of Highway Y in Winfield. The blaze destroyed the home in owned by Dave and Debbie Coffer fire officials said, but caused no injuries.
Homeowner, Dave Coffer, who was the only one home at the time and called 911 reporting that his home was on fire and escaped without injury. Firefighters arrived on scene to the home, fully engulfed in flames.
Members of the Winfield Foley, Elsberry and Lincoln County Fire Protection Districts fought the blaze; however, the one-story log home was a total loss. Authorities say they believe the fire started on the Cofferʼs front porch.
About two hours later, a barn fire was reported at the address of 1044 McIntosh Hill Road in Foley. Members of the Winfield Foley, Elsberry and Old Monroe Fire Protection Districts were dispatched to that fire.
Although no cause of either fire has officially been determined, the fires remain under investigation due to close proximity and time.
Ashley N. (Priest) Holton
Reporter, Photographer
The Elsberry Democrat
Elsberry, MO 63343
Phone (573) 898-2318
Fax (573) 898-2173
www.elsberrydemocrat.com