By guest columnist Andy McDonald
City of Mount Vernon Mayor Tim Roberts expressed his gratitude to the Berea Fire Department after Berea’s firefighters helped extinguish a potentially devastating blaze in his city earlier this month.
In the wake of the downtown fire, in which the BFD crew from Ladder #1 helped contain the damage, Roberts sent the following message to Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley, which Fraley read at Tuesday’s Berea City Council meeting.
“Dear Mayor Fraley:
On behalf of the citizens of Mount Vernon, I want to express our grateful appreciation to you, the city council, and especially the Berea firefighters assigned to Ladder # 1.
On Tuesday, April 2, our city had a major structure fire on Main Street that could have resulted in the loss of several historic buildings. The Mount Vernon Fire Department needed additional ladder trucks to contain the fire. Mount Vernon Fire Chief Adam Bales requested support from Berea’s fire department, and without hesitation, within a few minutes, Ladder #1 arrived and assisted with extinguishing the fire.
Through the efforts of several firefighters from Rockcastle, Laurel and Madison Counties, the damage from the fire was contained to two buildings.
I would be remiss if I did not mention how impressed we were by the skill and professionalism of the Berea firefighters that were on the scene.
The City of Mount Vernon is forever grateful to our northern neighbors who came to assist us in our time of need.”
In concluding his remarks, Fraley stated:
“I think it’s important to show the gratitude that people have when we go to help out with mutual aid, but also to show the professionalism of a world class fire department that we have in Berea, Kentucky,” Fraley said. “I can describe it as no less than world class. Shawn, compliments to you and your men.”
Berea Fire Department Chief Shawn Sandlin expressed appreciation for the letter, stating his department and the city strive to be a good neighbor, and that he is certain Chief Bales and the Mount Vernon Fire Department would do the same for Berea.
