Benge FD’s year consists of new vehicle, leadership changes and fires

The Adams County Fire Protection District No. 6 in Benge is having an eventful 2017, including the addition of a new vehicle to its fleet.

At the end of February, the department acquired a surplused 1997 Stewart Stevenson military truck from Colorado Springs Air Force Base with the help of the Department of Natural Resources.

According to Chair Commissioner Jerry Whitman, the department only had to pay to haul the truck from Colorado Springs, to Ritzville where the department transported it to Benge. The department outfitted the vehicle with firefighting equipment from a surplus truck they acquired from the Washtucna Fire Department.

Whitman said it took 2-3 workdays to convert the Stewart Stevenson into a fire truck.

Students from the Lind-Ritzville High School FFA chapter painted the truck. The vehicle was ready for the department to use in June.

“This is by far our newest truck,” Whitman said. “Before, the newest truck we had was from 1972-72. This was a big upgrade for our department.”

Whitman added the vehicle has worked well for the department.

The Benge Fire Department responded to a fire on May 29 at 3:55 a.m. According to District Secretary Thomas Pulliam, a Union Pacific Railroad lead engine stopped just north of Ankeny and had smoke in the cab. The Ritzville and Washtucna fire departments assisted Benge at the scene.

Pulliam said firefighter Paul Coon shut down the engine, while Lori Graves determined the cause of the fire was frayed wiring in the main panel. Crews were at the scene until 6 a.m.

The department responded to a fire on July 22, south of Negro Lake off Dyer Road. This marked the maiden voyage for the Stewart Stevenson, which Whitman said went flawlessly.

The Washtucna Fire Department and a civilian assisted Benge with the fire, which burned 1,000 acres. Crews were at the scene unit 6:30 p.m.

According to Pulliam, the cause of the fire was thought to have started from a bird’s nest that caught fire in an electrical box near Negro Spring.

On July 30, the department responded to a fire at the Scholmer residence on Troupe Road.

Crews determined the fire started in a metal open shop. The fire was contained to the metal building. Personnel were at the scene until 11 p.m. Bruce Honn and James Eneyart used their farm fire truck to extinguish the blaze before others arrived. An antique wooden boat was destroyed.

On Aug. 2, the Benge Fire Department responded to an electrical fire in Lantz on the Benge Land Company property. The Goyke family, of Rosalia, who were in Adams County for harvest, drove seven miles to the Benge Elevator to report the fire.

The fire was contained to only a couple of acres, as natural vegetation slowed the blaze. Crews were at the scene until 7:20 pm.

The department also experienced a couple of change in its administrative structure. In January, Jim Whitman retired from Commissioner Seat No. 2 and moved to Cheney. Fritz Coon was appointed to take Whitman’s place on the commission.

Linda Whitman, who served as the department’s secretary since 1995, retired as well. Pulliam was appointed to take her place.

In March, Safety Officer Randy Bachman retired after serving both the LaCrosse and Benge fire departments since 1982. In the same month, Pulliam received his Fire Instructor 1 certification from the Washington State Fire Training Academy.