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Alderman praises firemen By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer Alderman
Russell Johnson was in an unusual spot April 10. Whereas Holly Springs
firefighters depend on their aldermen for their jobs, Johnson in this
case was dependent on the firefighters he has put his trust in for the
city. His house was on fire. He took the
opportunity at the board of aldermen meeting Tuesday last week to thank
firefighters for their work in limiting the spread of fire to his home.
He lost the garage. “They took control and limited the damage,” he said. “The adjuster and the fire inspector - they saved my house.” He praised assistant fire chief Rodney Crane and all firefighters who came out. “I want you to know I appreciate it,” he said. “That typifies the staff we have,” added Mayor Andre’ DeBerry. “That evening will bear witness to that.” DeBerry often says he believes Holly Springs has the best firefighting force in the state. Crane
said the fire marshal thinks the fire started from under a panel on one
of the two motorcycles Johnson had running in his garage to recharge
their batteries. A Chevy Trailblazer was also parked in the garage. “He
was in the yard working and went inside his house to do something and a
neighbor saw smoke and stopped by,” Crane said. “The fire had spread
from the motorcycle to material in the garage.” A
two-prong attack on the fire was performed with firefighters attacking
the fire inside the garage and from inside the house at a hallway that
joins the house to the garage, Crane said. He
said firefighters were lucky to catch the blaze early before it had a
chance to spread to a high-pitched roof on Johnson’s house. The
crew on duty at the time of the fire call responded in a truck and were
joined by two more trucks that followed shortly thereafter, according
to Crane. Among those helping were Capt. James Richmond, Charles
Preston, James Gibson, Royce Pegues and Capt. Tracy Jeffries.
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