June 29, 2005

Storms wreak havoc across WRT

       The White River Township Fire Department responded to eleven emergency calls Wednesday afternoon following a severe thunderstorm that swept through the area with little warning.  "The storm just popped up out of nowhere with no watches or warnings posted", said Battalion Chief Jeff Wilson who responded as the incident commander on several of the calls.  "Having eleven calls in a one day is not that unusual, but eleven calls all within a half-hour is", Wilson added.  Further complicating matters was the fact that the same storm was affecting most of the northern half of Johnson County.  Almost every department was already out on calls of their own including the Greenwood Fire Department who was on a two-alarm apartment fire.  Because of this, the closest mutual-aid that was available was Indianapolis Fire Department who responded two ladder companies down to assist.  Additionally, off-duty firefighters were called in and staffed backup equipment.  Eventually, all available apparatus were out on calls.  Calls included fire alarms, multiple lightning strike investigations, an attic fire, and a roof collapse from high winds.  No injuries were reported on any of the calls.  See a related story HERE.

 

           
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