To the Editor:
This is a letter of profound gratitude to our West Tisbury Fire Chief Greg Pachico, and the West Tisbury Fire Department. It is also to our West Tisbury Police Chief Matt Mincone, and our Tri-Town Ambulance crew. Somehow, we never think we will actually need these dedicated public servants. But when disaster struck on the morning of June 23, I was grateful to see them move into well-trained action.
The fire trucks arrived at my home in record time following my 911 call. The firemen jumped into their heavy fire suits (on a blisteringly hot day), donned oxygen tanks and protective headgear, and entered my home. They could not see a thing, due to the thick, black soot that had filled the entire house. They had to feel their way down into the basement to trace the fire to an old dehumidifier. The fire was so hot it had pulverized the dehumidifier and the PVC pipes in the area.
The crews came out, cooled down, and rotated, according to protocol. They then returned to the fire with fresh oxygen tanks to continue their work. After more than seven hours, making sure there were no additional embers that could reignite the fire, they finally left the scene.
It was a long, exhausting day for everyone involved. Yet as each one of the men and women left to go home to shower and change clothes, they took the time to give me and my dog, Ginger, a hug. They expressed how sorry they were that they could not save our beloved 17-year-old cat. Their concern was genuine. It helped.
Now, in the aftermath of the fire, there is much loss and much rebuilding to do. I will be eternally grateful that the men and women who came that day were able to save the shell of the house. I am determined to rebuild the home my late husband and I poured our love into for so many decades. There are no words to fully express how grateful I am for the dedication and professionalism of our volunteers and town officials. It is clear to me that each one of them is a true hero, risking life and limb every day to protect us all.
Judy Crawford
West Tisbury
