Page 10 University Daily Kansan, September 14, 1983
Rural firefighters bring security to town
By PETE WICKLUND Staff Reporter
Were it not for a designating sign, the yellow shed near the intersection of Louisiana and 31st streets could easily be ignored by passers-by.
The shed is the home of the Wakarusa Township Fire Department.
But that sign, labeled with bright white letters, explains that the usually quiet shed houses the men and appa-
sals of the children. But the difference between life and death.
Serving rural land on three sides of Lawrence, the department has a force of 22 firefighters, but only four of them are full-time, paid employees. The rest will be hired by people who will leave their homes and jobs to help at the scene of an emergency.
THE DEPARTMENT WAS founded in 1959 after residents of the township decided they needed better fire protection and contracted for service from Lawrence.
"The they thought they could do a better job," said Louie McEhalaney, Wakarusa fire chief, about the department's founders.
McEllanney, a former Lawrence firefighter who has been Wakarusa's chief for the past seven years, said that a main concern of the residents was how well the city equipment adapted to the rural landscape.
"There were a lot of bridges in the township that the city trucks exceeded the weight limit on." McEhlaney said.
Sitting in the stark combination kitchen, office and living quarters of the fire station, McElhany explained how she was able to respond the same time. Oscar Burton, the fire
fighter on duty Monday night, boiled potatoes for his supper.
MCLAHENY SAID his duties were, for the most part, administrative, and the other three full-time firefighters manned the firehouse in 24-hour.
When he receives a call for help, the full-time man on duty is responsible for summoning volunteers to the fire station or to the scene of an emergency. He then leaves for the fire himself in one of the department's three trucks
The department receives its calls in one of two ways: either by the direct phone line to the station or through the Department of Douglas County, Sheriff's Department.
"We have a paging system here so if we get a call, all we have to do is tone the pagers and tell the mute the phone directly to the fire or to the station." McEhlaney said.
ONLY NINE OF the volunteers carry pagers. The other nine are the reserves who are called by telephone when a big fire requires their services.
Flightlights live on both sides of the horseshoe-shaped district, and the scene of the event is seen through the call and which pick up the other department vehicles.
MCELHANEY SAID THAT his department received about 50 to 60 calls a year, most of which are car or grass fires.
Grass fires, McEllaney said, pose a threat because of the size of the district, which measures 14½ miles north and south and eight miles east and west.
Another factor that can hamper the department is the possibility of running out of water. There are no fire hydrants in the building, so water must be out of water at a fire, the firefighters
Recently the department designed adapters to hook onto clean- out valves on rural water lines so that the lines could be used as a water source.
may have to take the tank truck back to town to refill it.
we have refiled a few times at bad house fires," McElhane said. "But the way that usually works is that if we're out at a house fire, we haven't put out the fire, chances are we've not going to save that house."
MELCILIANEY TRIES to make sure that his firefighters get as much training as possible. They hold formal training sessions twice a month, and
'... If we're out at a house fire, and we've used all that water and haven't put out the fire, chances are we're not going to save that house.'
Louie McElhaney Wakarusa Fire Chief
Burton and another firefighter are now enrolled in fire science classes at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park.
Burton spends many of his evenings at the station studying for his classes.
"The building construction class has taught me a lot about the different types of vehicles have in the township," said Burton, a 2-year veteran of the department.
BURTON SAID HE now knows more of what to expect when he enters a burning building. He cited an example
of a house fire he helped fight on east 15th Street last spring.
"The classes really helped," Burton said. "I knew exactly where to look for voids where the fire could have spread."
When there is not an emergency to attend to, life at the firehouse is quiet, according to Burton.
McEhlanney said that the three full-time men occupy their days maintaining equipment and updating a building system to repair impounds each residence in the township.
The chief has recently been busy with his position as president of the newly formed Douglas County Fire Chief's Association. McElhaney said the purpose of the association was to study ways to provide better fire protection to all the county's townships and to look into ways to improve assistance between fire departments in the county.
LAWRENCE FIRE CHIEF Jim McSwan praised the establishment of the chief's association.
"I think getting together once a month and talking about aspects that affect departments in the county is very worthwhile." McSwan said.
Monday night at the firehouse was a typical quiet night for the department.
McEllenay prepared to go home after a long day which included traveling to Manhattan to pick up an old Army truck. He said the truck was taken to the fire department, as a tank truck to provide extra water all the fire departments in the county.
Meanwhile, Burton had finished his supper and was getting ready to begin his night-long vigil at the yellow shed.
Reagan, Mugabe meet
By United Press International
WASHINGTON — President Reagan told Prime Minister Robert Mugabe yesterday that he was disappointed by Zimbabwe's abdication on the sea. He said the Soviet attack on a Korean airliner, U.S. officials said.
Mugabe indicated his disap-
partment with the U.S. refusal to
back independence for Namibia to
removed from neighboring Angola.
THE SUBJECT OF television news came up when Mugabe complained about "negative reporting" about human rights in his country and about the Middle East, officials said.
Despite the conflicts, Mugabe thanked Reagan for U.S. economic aid — $223 million in the 30 years prior to his death. More nearly Rhodesia, won independence.
"We have come as friends and we go back as greater and closer friends." Mugabe said.
Zimbabwe is a central player in tension-tired southern Africa. Mugabe said that the aparibird continues to destabilize the region."
U. S. officials said "our side" asked Mugabe why his country was one of four nations abstaining in the vote on a U.N. Security Council resolution deploring the Soviet attack on the Korean airplane.
THE OFFICIALS DECLINED to state whether Reagan himself brought it up, but indicated that he wouldn't. He didn't wouldn't. It wouldn't be a surprise to tell you we
were very disappointed by that abstention."
He said Mugabe responded that Zimbabwe was acting for the other non-aligned African nations.
The U.S. official said he did not think that allayed the U.S. disappointment.
He declared to say whether the $75 million in aid requested for Zimbabwe this fiscal year would be jeopardized by the abstention, advising reporters "to ask on the (Canad) Hill."
Mugabe told reporters the United States and Zimbabwe generally "have looked at issues through the same glasses". But he noted there differences particularly on the issue of Namibian independence.
ZIMBABWE IS leading a push for independence from Namibia — formerly known as Southwest Africa — from control of South Africa. But the United States has remained opposed until Cuban troops leave Angola.
Reagan said, "We didn't always agree. But I believe we will come closer to an understanding where our views diverge."
"We are a growing country"
Mugabe said. "We may make mistakes as we move forward. But we are prepared that where we err, we shall correct ourselves and get back to course."
"We don't intend to vitate at all those principles which underline the constitutional order that we have created. We are determined that a non-racial society shall exist in our nation, a civilized nation in religion,ism, regionalism — and whatever other 'ism's' — these are things of the past."
--at KING Jeans
FURNITURE RENTALS
Complete furnishings for (1) bedroom apartments as low as $35 a month. From studios to luxury townhouses, or individual item leasing. Wide selection of quality brand name furniture with guaranteed prompt delivery.
观 our showroom at:
THOMPSON-CRAWLEY FURNITURE RENTALS
520 E.2丹 Terr. 841-5212
EMPLOYEES NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
Mass St. Deli and Old Carpenter Hall Smokehouse
Save 30% to 70% on your favorite Jeans and Shirts at our great annual event!
— Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 AM-3 PM availability
— Food Service experience mandatory
— Apply at Schumm Food Co. office
71912 Massachusetts
above the Smokehouse
between 9 AM and 3 PM
Moonlight Madness Sale!
Boys Recycled Lee-Levi's JEANS $5
Mens Recycled LEVI'S $1099
PLEASE NOTE!
We will be open Thurs. nite from 7 pm till 10 pm. These prices good all day Thurs., Fri., Sat. and Sun. (1 till 5)
Gals 'Zena' Striped
JEANS $2699
Asst. Levi's SHIRTS
SAVE WHILE QUANTITIES LAST!
$25 value-Mens $1999 SWEATERS
Gals 'Lee' irr. $1499
JEANS
Gals 'Lee' JEANS
LONDON
RIDERS
$2699
1 Rack
Gals SLACKS $5
1 Rack Gals TOPS $3
KING Jeans
Recycled 'Snap Front' $5 LEVI'S DENIMS
- for GUYS -
Gals 'Lee' Striped
JEANS $2699
740 Mass.
- FOR GALS *
These Prices — LIMITED TIME ONLY!
Levi's Recycled CORDS
Straight Leg $1599 Levi's JEANS
Mens Short Sleeve $999 Levi's SHIRTS
25 to 28 Waists PAINTER PANTS $5
Gals Denim CALVIN $2795 KLEINS
.25 DRAWS & $1.00
DRINKS TONIGHT!!
UNTIL 10:30PM
EVEN MORE SPECIALS
AFTER 10:30PM
All interested people are invited to meet and talk with Miss Lawrence Pageant officials and former participants in The Miss America Scholarship Program.
--announces an
The Crystal Room of the Eldridge House 7th and Massachusetts
2024 W. 23rd
Behind Hardees
749-5392 KINKO
23rd & Ousdahl So. Hills Center 842-3977
904 Vermont
843-8019
- Self-serve copies
- High quality copies
Sunday, September 18, 2 to 4 p.m.
Sponsored by the Delta Chi Fraternity
Now there are two KINKO'S...
- Binding
Informal Tea
- Transparencies
- Reductions
- Passport photos
- Variety of specialty papers
kinko's copies I & II
the electronic printshop
THE MISS LAWRENCE SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT
---
DIMENSTOOGIA IN 3-D
Monday, September 12 7:30 pm
Join the Three Stonges for five classic shorts including their very rare 3 D and Glasses provided.
THE SUA CARTOON SHOW
Tuesday, September 13 7:30 pm
A handpicked selection of classic animation featuring Betty Boop, Bugs Bunny
THE FALLS
Wednesday, September 14 7:30 pm
An absolutely unique comic pseudocodecatalog from a brilliant new British film-mak
BEFORE THE NICKELODEON
1 (fursuit)
An eye-opening look at the cinematic history Edwin S. Porter, A New York Film Festival hit, integrated in a biography by film-maker Charles Musso.
BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ
Friday, March 30
A brilliant work from one of the cinema's modern mastersts - Rainer Werner Fassbinder
a 15-hour course of life in pre-Nazi Berlin.
Woodruff Auditorium
September 12-18. 1983
Kansas Union
...