The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Oquawka Fire Chief Praises Community
Hal Jern, Oquawka Fire Chief, said that last Wednesday morning, August 10th, at 10:43 a.m., the Oquawka Volunteer Fire/Rescue received a page from the Henderson County 911 of a structure fire on the Mississippi River front.
They were directed to the residence of Mahdi Cezar, west of Second Street.
The Oquawka Volunteer Fire/Rescue responded within four minutes with five firefighters, two pumpers, and a tanker.
"The Oquawka firefighters went into attack mode," said Oquawka Fire Chief Hal Jern.
Jern said that right behind them stood Gladstone Fire/Rescue Department with manpower, pumpers and tankers.
"Without their quick professional response and assistance, we would have lost all the homes on the west side of the waterfront," Chief Jern said. "We were holding off the fire the best we could."
"We were assisted by Henderson County Sheriff Mark Lumbeck and his deputy Steve Haynes.
"Additional mutual aide came from Keithsburg, Biggsville, Media-Stronghurst (M.S.T.), West Burlington, IA fire departments, as well as the Emergency Medical Services including ambulances from Oquawka, Gladstone, Burlington Fire Dept. that provided paramedics. Their crews treated over fifteen firefighters at the scene.
Dopher (Delbert) Thompson of Oquawka boats had put his fire boat in operation and pumped over one-hundred thousand gallons of water onto the fire.
Oquawka firemen pumped from hydrants while M.S.T. and Gladstone firemen drafted out of portable fold-a-tanks used for rural fire operations.
Chief Jern explains, "At the height of the fire, an estimated thirty-five hundred gallons of water per minute was pumped onto the blaze.
"By noon, eighty to ninety firefighters were on the scene, battling in the heat to stop the red devil."
Chief Jern was impressed by the citizens who helped man and pull fire hoses as others got water, pop, and sandwiches and delivered the food to the scene.
He praised Oquawka and surrounding communities, fire departments, emergency medical services for their quick professional assistance.
"Thank God For Mutual Aid!" Jern said.
Oquawka firefighter Chad Bailey was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. Oquawka firefighter Mike Mann injured his kneecap when he fell in a hole. Oquawka Fire Chief Hal Jern and a West Burlington firefighter were treated at Great River Medical Center for smoke inhalation.
In the thirty-eight years that Jern has been a volunteer firefighter, the Cezar/Tee fire has been the hottest and biggest residential fire he had ever fought.
Friday, August 12, with the help of a fire forensic dog, three Illinois State Fire Marshals investigated the site and ruled the fire was caused from "an undetermined origin" .
Chief Jern said, "I wish to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for all who assisted at the fire last Wednesday. You were all community spirited and first responders in time of need. It was a successful team effort."
Picture is of two volunteer fireman at Oquawka on Wednesday trying to stop spread of fire that already claimed this 2nd house belonging to Jeff Tee of Oquawka. -photo by Donna Robbins