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December 23, 2008 |
Fire Chiefs Stress Holiday Safety Tips Fairfield Township Fire Chief David Downie and Assistant Fire Chief Paul McKendry participated in a press conference at Cincinnati State, December 23, 2008 to stress the importance of Fire Safety during the holiday season. The State Fire Marshals from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky were present with just over two dozen Fire Chiefs from the tri-state region to help deliver this message. Please click the links below for additional information: Ch. 12 Noon 12-23-2008 Noon and
morning news
Pictured Left to Right State of Ohio Fire Marshal Michael P. Bell Indiana State Fire
Marshal James L. Greeson Kentucky State Fire Marshal William Swope, Jr. |
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December 15, 2008 |
STATE FIRE
MARSHAL SUGGESTS A LIFESAVING GIFT State Fire Marshal Michael P. Bell
today suggested a potentially lifesaving gift idea for this holiday season: a
smoke detector. While inexpensive, smoke detectors are invaluable gifts
that show your loved ones and friends how much you care. After several
fatal fires in Ohio this year, it is more important than ever that every home
take necessary precautions. “We have seen tragic reminders
from all over the state this year of how important it is to have smoke
detectors in our homes,” said Marshal Bell. “What better gift can you
give than one that could save a life?” Smoke detectors start at just a
few dollars, can be purchased at most hardware, department, or drug stores,
and are very easy to install and maintain. Marshal Bell says smoke
detectors also are perfect for that hard-to-buy-for person on your holiday
shopping list. “Unlike other gifts, smoke detectors are easy choices. A
home can never have too many smoke detectors and you don’t have to worry
about buying the right size or color.” Unfortunately, more than 80% of
the fatal fires in Ohio this year occurred in homes where smoke detectors
were not present, did not function properly, or were placed in an ineffective
location. Marshal Bell offers the
following tips regarding smoke detectors:
Many local fire departments have
programs to assist families that can’t afford smoke detectors. For more
information on the Division of State Fire Marshal, please visit www.com.ohio.gov. |
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December 1, 2008 |
Santa and FTFD Lights Christmas Tree at Bridgwater Falls Santa
has been busy with his travels from the North Pole to Fairfield Township. On
December 1, 2008, Fairfield Township Fire Department escorted Santa to
Bridgewater Falls to light the Christmas tree in the village. Click
here
to see coverage provided by The Cincinnati Enquirer |
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November 28, 2008 |
Fairfield
Township Fire Department Brings Santa to Bridgewater Falls for Black Friday Fairfield Township Fire Department firefighters
were honorary elves on November 28, 2008 as they escorted Santa Claus around
Bridgewater Falls. Santa visited with families on hand and even made time to
spread some holiday cheer on a local radio station.
Click here
to see some video of Santa at the center the day after Thanksgiving. |
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November 10, 2008 |
State Fire Marshal,
PUCO Remind Ohioans to Heat Homes Safely State Fire Marshal Michael P.
Bell and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) are reminding Ohioans
to focus on fire safety when heating their homes this winter and to use extra
care if utilizing secondary heating sources like space heaters. Ohioans who
are concerned with paying their home heating bills can take advantage of
several assistance programs offered across the state. “Proper installation, use and
maintenance of winter heating devices are essential for reducing the risks of
fire and carbon-monoxide poisoning,” says Marshal Bell. “Home heating fires in Ohio
are often caused by human error, particularly through the misuse of portable
heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces.” “With colder temperatures approaching, now is the time for Ohioans to work with their local utility companies to restore their service if it has been disconnected or make payment arrangements to maintain their service,” PUCO Chairman Alan Schriber stated. “We encourage customers to take the time now to research energy assistance programs and other payment assistance options so that they are able to maintain their home heating service this winter.” In 2007, five people died and 79
people were injured in 690 heating-related fires in homes throughout Ohio. Marshal Bell stresses the
importance of having your home's heating system checked annually by a
qualified professional. Furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves and their chimneys
should be inspected and cleaned prior to the start of every heating
season. Be certain that alternate
sources of heating, such as portable electric and kerosene heaters and wood
burning stoves, are used according to their instructions and with extreme
caution. For any space heater remember: Space Heaters Need Space – at
least three feet from anything that can burn. To avoid falling victim to
carbon monoxide – a colorless, odorless, potentially deadly gas produced by
fuel-burning equipment, such as furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces, and
kerosene heaters – install at least one carbon monoxide alarm near sleeping
areas. Call the fire department if the alarm sounds. Ohioans are encouraged to visit www.winterheat.ohio.gov, Ohio’s
winter heating resource center, for complete access to information about the
winter heating season. This Web site compiles winter heating resources from
state agencies including the PUCO, the Office of the Consumers’ Counsel and
the Ohio departments of Development, Job and Family Services and Aging. When
visiting the site, consumers can learn about available utility assistance
programs, energy conservation and weatherization, billing information, and
natural gas choice and general pricing information. Marshal Bell offers the
following additional safety tips to help you have a fire safe
winter. Fireplaces and Wood Burning Stoves ·
Allow enough clearance
between a wood burning stove and combustible materials such as walls, floors
and ceilings. ·
A wood stove should
be placed on an approved stove board to protect your floor from heat and hot
coals. ·
Make sure the flue
is open before lighting a fire, and never close the flue while a fire is
still smoldering. · Use a fireplace screen to prevent any sparks from reaching out and igniting nearby objects. ·
Never use gasoline
or lighter fluid to start a fire. ·
The immediate area
in front of a fireplace (approximately 3 feet) should not have a rug, carpet
or exposed wood flooring. ·
When lighting a gas
fireplace, strike your match first, then turn on the gas. ·
Burn only dry,
seasoned wood, and dispose of the cooled ashes in a closed metal container
outside and away from your home. ·
Never leave a fire
burning unattended in the fireplace. Portable Space Heaters
Kerosene Heaters ·
Make sure the room
has proper ventilation. ·
Fill your heater
with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene. Do not use any fluid that is not
recommended for your heater. Refuel outside, and only after the heater has
cooled down. ·
Check the wick every
couple of weeks during the heating season. If the wick is dirty, clean it according
to the manufacturer's instructions. ·
Because a kerosene
heater has a constant open flame, it should not be used in a room where there
are flammable solvents, aerosol sprays, gasoline or any type of oil. Propane
and Natural Gas
·
If you have a
portable generator, make sure you place it in a well-ventilated area. Read
the manufacturer’s instructions before using it. ·
Be sure generator
fuel is properly and safely stored according to fire regulations. Never store
fuel or flammable liquids in a basement or near an open flame. Always refuel
the generator outdoors and away from any ignition sources. ·
If you choose to
have a generator permanently connected to your home’s electrical system, make
sure a licensed electrician installs it and be sure to notify your electric
company. Improperly installed generators can cause multiple types of hazards
not only for you but for power company workers. Also, make sure you have working
smoke alarms installed on every level of your home and inside each sleeping
area to alert you in the event of a fire. Test the batteries on a weekly
basis. |
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October 31, 2008 |
Halloween in Halloween is scheduled As with tradition, the fire department will be out distributing candy to all of the ghosts and goblins |
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October 25, 2008 |
Fairfield Township Fire Department to Host Open House October 25, 2008 You’re invited -- Bring the family, friends and neighbors on Saturday, November 1, 2008 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, to the Fairfield Township Fire Department (6048 Morris Road, Hamilton, Ohio) for free activities and exhibits by: Fairfield Township Fire Department -
Fire Trucks, Life Squads, Fire & Severe Weather Safety Trailer, Home Fire
Safety Presentations, and More This is a very fun and informative
afternoon for the whole family. We hope that you will join us! |
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Light the Night Walk Fairfield Township Fire Department members and Explorer
Post will be participating in the 2008 “Light the Night Walk” to honor a
fallen department member, Fairfield Township Firefighter/EMT Christopher A. Wisner,
age 27, passed away Department members will be attending the Butler/Warren
County Area Walk at the Fairfield Township Fire Department members will be
participating with the “Chris's Wishes Team” in an effort to raise funds for
cures. Team captain for Chris’s Wishes, Lisa Wisner (Chris’s mother) states their
team goal was $3,500.00. As of It’s the nation’s night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of patients and their families. Funds raised through Light The Night Walk support the work of hundreds of the world’s best and brightest researchers in their search for better therapies and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. For more information please refer http://teams.lightthenight.org/chrisswishes
or http://www.lightthenight.org and
enter your zip code to find your local chapter.
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3rd Your invited -- Bring the family,
friends and neighbors on Fairfield Township Police Department
- Police Cars and DARE information Other participating agencies and
organizations include Children's Hospital, Butler County Hazmat, resources
from Butler County Emergency Management Agency, Butler County Sheriff and
More! This is a very fun and informative
day for the whole family. We hope that you will join us! |
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Brutus Arrives! Brutus, the new fire pumper for Fairfield Township Fire Department
has arrived and is being prepared for service. Training and mounting of new
equipment should be completed soon and Brutus will be ready to protect our
community. Named for the mascot of the Ohio State Buckeyes, the root word Brute
describes physical strength and roughness, all which are characteristic
firefighters want in their apparatus. Built in Brutus loves visitors and can be seen at the Fairfield Township Fire
Headquarters located at
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Brutus is coming! Fairfield
Township Fire Department will anticipates the delivery of a new fire engine,
nicknamed “Brutus”, in the month of May. The
pictures below are of the truck in the final stages of production and during
the pump testing at Sutphen.
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Fire Department Promotes Officers Fairfield
Township Fire Department proudly announces the following promotions. |
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Township fire department picks top
firefighters By Eric Schwartzberg Fairfield Twp. Fire Department last week awarded firefighter of the
year honors to two men known for their involvement in the department and the
township. Firefighters voted Fairfield Twp. Fire "They are both enthusiastic, take on extra projects and go above
and beyond the normal call," Downie said. "That's why their peers
have picked them." The two men might be decades apart in age, but they are similar when
it comes to their commitment to colleagues and the community. Berter, a 1998 Berter said it was great to be chosen by his fellow firefighters for
the honor. "To know that I'm actually able to impact and give the guys more
than just the day-to-day is an awesome feeling," he said. McGinnis, who joined the department in 2003, works full-time with
Modern Sheet Metal Works in Miamitown . The 47-year-old serves on the
department with sons Andy and He said it was "quite an honor" to be selected for the
award. "Because it's my peers who made the selection, it's pretty
awesome," McGinnis said. "We've got some great individuals that do
a lot of different things that are real assets to our department." Downie said McGinnis and his family assisted in selling T-shirts and
organizing a pancake breakfast last year to raise funds for In addition, McGinnis and Modern Sheet Metal Works have donated
countless hours and material to the department for metal work fabrication,
Downie said. Fairfield Twp. firefighters first began nominating their peers for the
award in 2000, Downie said. They base their nominations on several criteria,
he said, including a firefighter's level of community service, leadership, fire
skills and willingness to take on extra responsibilities. Fire department officers are not eligible to vote and may not receive
the award, Downie said. Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5126 or eschwartzberg@coxohio.com.
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Fire departments honor Wisner
Fire departments from around Christopher A. Wisner, a Fairfield Twp. firefighter/EMT, died Jan. 17
at Jewish Hospital in Kenwood, a day after his 27th birthday, Fairfield Twp. Fire
Department and The West Chester Fire Department gave special salutes at the Diagnosed with leukemia in January 2005, Wisner underwent chemotherapy
and bone marrow transplants from his younger brother, David Wisner, to combat
the disease. He returned to the department for several months but stopped working
in early 2007 after a relapse, said Downie said the procession was the department's way of paying its
respects. "Fire service is known as a brotherhood," Downie said.
"Regardless of how long Chris was a member ... he was still a brother.
While he didn't die in the line of the duty, he was a firefighter and we want
to show him the respect he deserves." Lisa Wisner said her son told fiancee Tina Goth that he wanted a
fireman's funeral. "At a time like this it gives me comfort because I know we're
doing right by Chris," she said. "The fire department is awesome because
they're making his last wish come true." Visitation was Sunday at Ivey Funeral Home at
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Area firefighters honor 'brother' who
succumbed to leukemia Member of Fairfield Twp.
department died a day after his 27th birthday. Fire departments from around Christopher A. Wisner, a Fairfield Twp. firefighter/EMT, died Thursday
morning at Jewish Hospital in Kenwood, a day after his 27th birthday,
following a three-year battle against acute myelogenous leukemia. Fairfield Twp. Fire
Department and The West Chester Fire Department gave special salutes at the Diagnosed with leukemia in January 2005, Wisner underwent
chemotherapy. His younger brother, David was a donor for bone marrow
transplants to combat the disease. He returned to the department for several months but stopped working
in early 2007 after a relapse, said his mother, Lisa Wisner. Downie said the procession was the department's way of paying its
respects. "Fire service is known as a brotherhood," Downie said.
"Regardless of how long Chris was a member ? he was still a brother.
While he didn't die in the line of the duty, he was a firefighter and we want
to show him the respect he deserves." Lisa Wisner said her son told fiancee Tina Goth that he wanted a
fireman's funeral. "At a time like this it gives me comfort because I know we're
doing right by Chris," she said. "The fire department is awesome
because they're making his last wish come true." Visitation is scheduled for |
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Fairfield Township Fire Department reminds
residents of the importance of Smoke Detectors The
Fairfield Township Fire Department would like to remind residents of the
importance of Smoke Detectors. This message reinforces the message sent from
the State Fire Marshall stating “since As a
service to the
To
participate in either of these programs please contact Capt. |
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The
second annual Safety Fair will be held on Miami
Valley Care flight an
Arson dog from the ATF |
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The Fairfield Township Fire
Department and Fairfield Township Trustees honored retired Captain |
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Fire department honors family who rescued twins Fairfield Township Fire Department,
Fairfield Township Trustees, Wal-Mart store manager Ben Kincer, Chili’s,
Restaurant, and the representatives of the East Butler County YMCA recognized
the Webber family whose actions helped save the lives of two children earlier
this month. The family received accolades and awards
for their diligence, quick action and efforts. After the family received applause from the
audience, Fairfield Township Fire Chief Dave Downie had one last award for
5-year-old Thomas. In a previous interview Thomas had stated
he wanted to be a firefighter when he grew up. Chief Downie awarded Thomas and his family
a ride in the Fairfield Township Fire Department Quint.
Fairfield Township Asst. Chief Paul
McKendry
Wal-Mart store manger Ben Kincer presents gift card
The Webber Family Thomas
and Family riding in Fire Truck |
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Fire department to honor family who rescued twins By Eric Schwartzberg Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5126 or eschwartzberg@coxohio.com FAIRFIELD TWP. — The Fairfield Twp. Fire
Department plans Tuesday night to recognize a Liberty Twp. family whose
actions helped save the lives of two children earlier this month. Danny and Cheri Webber were at the Thomas alerted his father, who removed the
boy from the bottom of the pool and notified the on-duty lifeguards. The boy's twin sister, Princess Odai, was
discovered motionless in the water and also was removed. Danny Webber's wife, Cheri, a registered
nurse, opened the airways of the victims and assisted with rescue breathing
along with the lifeguards, Downie said. Cheri Webber and the lifeguards stabilized
the twins prior to the arrival of township paramedics. Told by officials they could not use the
facility because they could not swim, the twins somehow got into the pool,
Downie said. The Webbers are scheduled to be honored |
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By DAVID DOWNIE Correspondent 1st Responder Network -- Story Number 062207105– Article Link A Fairfield Township Firefighter was briefly trapped this
morning in a house fire in the 6800 block of |
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With summer fast
approaching, more and more people in the Unfortunately,
sun, heat and fair-weather activities such as swimming, biking, picnicking
and lawn mowing also present their share of hazards. To help ensure everyone in the community enjoys a
safe summer, the members of Fairfield Township Fire Department offer the
following tips |
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Fairfield
Township Firefighters Respond to Multiple Near Drownings in 24 hour period By DAVID DOWNIE Correspondent 1st Responder Network -- Story Number 061607112 – Article Link On
A
nursing student visiting the pool performed rescue breathing and the child
was breathing on his own upon arrival of Fairfield Township Paramedics. The
Child was transported to Mercy Hospital Fairfield where he was later transferred
to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for observation. An
adult care taker had taken a group of children to the neighborhood pool and
left the children unattended while he smoked a cigarette when the incident
occurred. The pool does not have any life guards on duty. On
Upon
arrival three minutes later, firefighters discovered that two 9 year olds
twins, a brother and sister, were found at the bottom of the pool and were
not breathing when they were rescued by other swimmers and life guard
personnel. Five
year old Thomas Webber was swimming with his family when he discovered the
bodies on the bottom of the pool while using his underwater goggle. He told
his father, Danny Webber, who found one child at the bottom of the pool and
another sinking in the water. Both
victims were not breathing but had pulses when pulled from the water. Sherry
Webber, the mother of Thomas, is a registered nurse and assisted the life
guards with rescue breathing and with clearing their airways until department
Paramedics arrived Both
Children were transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital by Miami Valley
CareFlight and are listed in serious condition. The
parents of the children asked YMCA personnel about 30 minutes prior to the
incident if the kids could swim in the pool. This request was denied due to
the fact that neither child could swim. It is unsure how the children entered
the pool and why the parents were not supervising the children at the time of
the accident. |
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Elderly Women Critically Injured in By DAVID DOWNIE Correspondent 1st Responder Network -- Story Number 053007105 – Article Link Juanita Cates, 80, of Meanwhile, Allene Miller 82 of Hamilton was transported by
AirCare helicopter to Apparently, Cates- with Miller and Barnhart as passengers
was driving eastbound on the westbound lanes of A 1999 Ford pickup truck struck the Buick head on near
Ohio Bypass 4. According to Fairfield Township Police, Brian Latimer, a A 2002 Mazda Protégé driven by Marie Ahlquis of Mason
subsequently struck the rear of the pick up truck. Ahlquist was transported
to All three passengers in the Buick required extensive
extrication. Apparently, Cates mistook the exit ramp for westbound 129
as an entrance to the |
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Three
hurt in wrong-way crash BY JANICE MORSE Police are trying to figure out why the
elderly woman was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of the highway,
said He declined to release the woman’s name but
said her address is listed in the The wreck happened just before |
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FAIRFIELD TWP. — Six decades of volunteer fire and The township's fire department, which began in 1947, will make the
switch Saturday from a volunteer to a part-time paid fire department.
With 70 fire/EMS workers at its disposal, the township will have
enough to provide 24-hour coverage each of its two fire stations. Four
firefighters/paramedics will be on duty at each fire station at all times.
The department also has two full-time employees – Chief Dave Downie and
Assistant Chief Paul McKendry. The transformation will cost the township $657,000 for the addition
of 10 new firefighter positions to the department. Downie stressed that the
cost is part of the department's approved $2.2 million budget for 2007, not
an increase. What has increased is the township's population – up 108 percent
since 1990 – and its fire run demands. Since 1997, fire and "Our run volume increases have exceeded our capabilities to
provide service," Downie said. Making matters worse is a decline in volunteerism, he said. Trustee Steve Morgan said the move was something the community was
overdue for. "It was just time to make it to happen," Morgan said.
"The volunteer days are just about over with every fire
department." In Downie said the new part-time status will give the department the
ability to recruit enough volunteers to provide an adequate amount of service
after Township officials plan to re-examine the fire department budget to
pay for the part-time salaries, Downie said. "We are exceeding our income on our budget and that's something
trustees will address in the near future," he said. |
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Announced today that Fairfield
Township Fire Department is the recipient of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants
(AFG). The primary goal of the
Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and
emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency
medical services organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped
firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed
equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources
needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related
hazards. The Office of Grants and
Training in the Department of Homeland Security administers the grants in
cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. For fiscal year 2005, Congress
reauthorized the Assistance to Firefighters Grants for an additional 5 years
through 2010. http://www.firegrantsupport.com/docs/media06_061006.pdf Fairfield Township Fire
Department’s award is for Operations and Safety. Plans are to allocate the funds for Personal Protective
Equipment, Equipment and Station Modification Total project cost is
$170,392.00 Federal share is $161,873.00 Township Share is $8,519.00 |
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Fairfield Township
Fire Department Staffing Study & Station Location Report Fairfield
Township Fire Department, Butler County selected T. G. Fire / EMS Systems, Inc.
after a “Request for Proposal” process to complete a Station Location, With
this information, the following report and recommendations regarding station
locations and staffing, have been developed using the present service
delivery as the current baseline. As
discussed in the present service delivery report, T. G. Fire / EMS Systems,
Inc. clearly understands that the community always sets the true level of
services that are provided. The
monetary requirements of the fire department are ultimately controlled by the
community it serves. Thus, the report
provides along with recommendations, the required information for both
elected officials and the community, so that any additional funding
requirement is easily understood by both groups. T.
G. Fire / EMS Systems, Inc., with its many years of This study will be presented at the Fairfield Township
Board of Trustees meetings held on Fairfield Township
Fire Department Staffing Study & Station Location Report |
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Teenage Lifeguard Performs CPR To Save Boy A teenaged member of a family of firefighters is
credited with saving the life of a three-year-old boy. Brittany Baker is credited with resuscitating the
toddler. He nearly drowned Monday afternoon at the YMCA pool on Local 12's Joelle Girone shows how "It happened in an instant," said Diana
Riley, witness. Playtime quickly turned into panic Monday at this "I saw the lifeguard at the slide reach down and
grab a little arm and pull him up," said Riley. "A little boy about
three or four. He was limp and vomiting." Diana Riley was just one of many who witnessed the
frightening scene. A toddler somehow sucked into the waters of the deep end. "You've gotta be ready," said Brittany Baker,
helped save drowning toddler. Brittany Baker was standing guard over the slide area
Monday. Although she is new to the job, the 15-year-old is anything but new
to the idea of lifesaving. Baker says it's in her blood. "My mom is a firefighter," said Baker.
"Her partner, Janet, is the captain of the fire department. My uncle is
a firefighter." Baker is also a The teen got to put her skills to the test Monday,
using CPR to help save the little boy. "Yeah, I think she's shown she can do the
job," said Mom couldn't be any prouder. Joelle Girone: "Even with the best parental
supervision and lifeguards on duty, witnesses here all agree that when it
comes to water it can happen in the blink of an eye." "It just literally takes a second and it doesn't have
to be deep water, it can be a bathtub or a toilet," said Gregory. Making pools an even greater risk. More water, more
people, more distractions. Yet, this pool has Brittany, who says helping must
run in the family. "It could happen any time, any place," said
Baker. The boy was taken to Children's Hospital, and is
expected to be okay. Teen Saves Toddler From Drowning At Suburban YMCA
A teenage lifeguard saved a three-year-old boy
from drowning at a suburban YMCA Monday afternoon. The 15-year-old girl found the child floating in
the pool at the Brittany Baker works at the YMCA as a pool aid,
keeping an eye on the water slide. Baker also happens to be a Fairfield Township
Fire Explorer and says her training kicked in. She noticed the three-year-old floating on his
side near the side of the pool and says she knew something was wrong and
pulled him out of the pool. 9News was told that the toddler was lethargic,
but never lost consciousness. Air Care flew the toddler to 9Nwes is told the child's vital signs are good
and that he is breathing on his own. |
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Township
hires first full-time fire chief
Courtesy Hamilton Journal News
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Local 12 is celebrating the people
and places that make the Tri-state such a great place to live Fairfield Township – Coverage begins Monday July 24TH with the Live Newscast Friday July 28TH |
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Fairfield Township Wal-Mart is now a At the event Wal-Mart presented Fairfield Township Fire
Department with a check for $5,000.00
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Your Fairfield
Township Wal-Mart will soon be a Local Wal-Mart sources recently announced the Fairfield Township
Wal-Mart will hold a Grand Opening of the newly expanded store, with the
opening of the |
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Fairfield Twp. firefighters will be stationed outside
In September 2004, Berter’s wife Carrie was six months
pregnant with their son Garrett when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s
Disease. Carrie was induced a month early in November 2004 to allow for six
months of chemotherapy, followed by six weeks of radiation. When neither
treatment worked, doctors tried a stem-cell transplant in December. The transplant worked and Carrie is now cancer-free. In his wife’s case, fellow firefighters offered the
necessary financial assistance, Berter said. “Halfway through that we struggled financially and a couple
of guys stepped up to help. It had been done for me and it was the least I
could do to help them out.” Berter began organizing the fund-raising event less than a
month ago when his 10-year-old stepson Christian gave him a flyer announcing He said he knew Braxton was in his son’s class and going
through chemotherapy treatments, but didn’t realize the family’s financial
situation until the flyer arrived. After Fairfield Twp. Fire Chief Dave Downie approved the
charitable action, Berter contacted Braxton’s teacher, Ellen Turkelson, who
had her fourth-grade class create flyers and posters for the fund-raising
event. Berter said His swollen left eye initially was diagnosed as a sinus
infection, said Braxton’s mother, Kim Farmer. After six weeks of treatment yielded no results, an Ear,
Nose and Throat specialist sent Braxton to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital,
where a biopsy showed Braxton had a malignant tumor “as big as an extra large
chicken egg” inside his sinus cavity, Farmer said. Since then he’s undergone weekly chemotherapy treatment,
radiation and four surgeries. Doctors expect Braxton to be in remission, but want him to
undergo MRIs and CAT scans every three months for the next three years,
Farmer said. “Until you’ve been in a situation like we’re in, you don’t
understand,” she said. “You can say you understand but until you’re actually
living it yourself, there’s no expectation of what you have to go through.” The emotional toll of long waiting room stays is accompanied
by the financial burden of medical bills. “We have insurance but they only cover so much of it and
some of his medications are $100 a month,” Farmer said. That burden already has been made a little lighter by North
Elementary’s “Beanies for Braxton” program and a winter carnival in February
that attracted about 300 people, she said. Farmer said she finds it “overwhelming” that there are so
many compassionate and considerate people offering assistance and support. “It’s amazing when you go through something like this how
people in the community have reached out to us,” she said. “We can’t even
express how much we appreciate it.” Contact Eric Schwartzberg at (513) 755-5126 or eschwartzberg@coxohio.com |
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November – December 2005 |
Dedicated in 2005, as In addition to the standard fire safety education, both
children and adults can learn to recognize severe weather warnings, and what
steps should be taken to stay safe when severe weather threatens.
To
those in our community who contributed to this project
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