June 05--FORD CLIFF -- Five of this borough's volunteer firefighters said they will never forget the scene of twisted metal and devastation they encountered after traveling to Oklahoma in the wake of the F4 tornado which hit May 19, nor will they forget the new friendships forged with the firefighters they met there.
Josh Adams, Joe Peluso, Tag Hecker, Bob Turek and Keith Beckett drove more than 2,400 miles over the Memorial Day weekend to help clean up the decimated residential area of Bethel Acres in Pottawatomie County, near Shawnee, Okla.
"It was like a war zone," said Hecker.
As the five-man crew first approached the scene they saw a house sheared completely off its front porch.
Beckett said when they rounded the bend in the road "everything was gone."
Two residents of Bethel Acres were reportedly killed in the tornado.
Trailers and homes were leveled with chunks of debris strewn far and wide.
Turek was shocked to discover part of a metal frame from an infant swing impaled through a tree.
"That was hard to see," he said.
Hecker said it was difficult to know where to begin cleaning up in the midst of such destruction.
People were everywhere, pushing stuff into piles and attempting to burn the unsalvageable remains of their belongings, he said.
The Ford Cliff men teamed up with the Shawnee Fire Department and assisted them in dousing a brush fire. Friendships formed quickly as they worked side by side.
Hecker said the Shawnee firefighters let them stay at their station and even gave up their bunks so the travelers could get some rest during their brief stay.
"The hospitality in Oklahoma is outstanding," said Hecker.
Beckett said people were amazed when they noticed the Ford Cliff name on the truck and discovered the distance they had traveled.
The crew got right to work after making the long overnight drive in the Ford Cliff department's quick attack pumper truck and were given work orders at the scene by a team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
One job they know made a big impact on an area resident who was battling lung cancer.
The men said Gary Thompson, who appeared to be in his mid 70s, had just received chemo treatment when his shed was damaged by the tornado. Thompson lived in a camper next to the shed. A tree, which had fallen on the camper during the storm, had been removed.
"We put a new roof on his shed," said Hecker, noting that Peluso is a roofer by trade.
"Everything (Thompson) owned was in that shed," he said.
Hecker said it made their day to help the Bethel Acres man and said the team was glad to be a part of the clean-up effort.
"All five of us would do it again," he said.
After they returned home, the men watched news coverage as another round of tornadoes cut through areas of Oklahoma.
"We were texting our buddies in Shawnee," said Hecker, referring to the firefighters there.
"This last round (of tornadoes) was close. We would not hesitate to go again," he said. "We made a lot of good friends down there and have been staying in touch. We've invited them to come up and see us."
Assistant Chief Dave Orton said the fire department is grateful to the generosity and support of Ford Cliff Borough and the surrounding community which helped fund the trip. He said the remaining funds will be sent to the Shawnee fire department to help with ongoing efforts there.
The Ford Cliff department will host a slide show of photos taken during the Oklahoma trip at its fish buffet Friday from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The all-you-can-eat buffet costs $9 and is half price for those 12 and younger.
Brigid Beatty is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-543-1303 or [email protected].
Most Popular Armstrong
1. Ford Cliff firefighters recall Oklahoma devastation
2. Priest from Manorsville comes home to celebrate 1st Mass
3. TV show highlights Armstrong County courthouse's history
4. Senior hopes 2 speeches make hole in one at Kittanning graduation
5. Ford City to install 5 flow meters
6. Bataan Death March survivor recalls 'hell'
7. Armstrong School District board tries to keep budget expenses in check
8. West Kittanning OKs contracts for new borough building
9. Phone scam hits Ford City
Copyright 2013 - The Leader Times, Kittanning, Pa.
