Fire on the island

Fire is one of those dangers that you can't predict...When will it happen, where will it happen and how does one deal with it. Well, this morning it happened at about 5 am down Cutting Sage Rd. (the road to Oyster Creek). The couple who own the house were alerted by the smoke detector and were able to vacate the house, but the house itself is a total loss. The flames could be seen through the trees from about 1/2 a mile away, and coal sized embers were floating through the sky and landing in yards all over Cutting Sage Rd. and onto Sunset Ave. (aka Firehouse Rd.) properties as well. Residents were worried because the fire was substantial and the wind was blowing around 15 -20 miles per hour. Nearby residents were alerted and told to be prepared to evacuate. Backup help was called in from Hatteras Island, and the ferry got them here in record time. Luckily, by the time they arrived, the local crew had controlled the fire and had been successful in preventing it from spreading to the neighboring houses and woods.
We want to give a big THANK YOU to all the fire crews and the groggy eyed helpers who got roused out of bed at so early an hour to keep us all (and our property) safe. We also send our condolences to the owners of the house. Our thoughts are with you as you carry on from this tragedy.
A reminder to everyone: Our fire department consists of all volunteers. Many people help when it's needed, but we need more people to give that extra time and join the fire department and get trained. The more trained and equiped responders we have, the less likely a fire will get out of control. So, if you are thinking about becoming more community oriented, consider joining one of the most important organizations we have on the island...Join the fire department. Or, if you really can't give the time but have a little extra money, they could use that to help equip the volunteers they do have and to replace the equipment that gets damaged everytime they respond to an event like the one today. Their address is: Ocracoke Fire Department, PO Box 332, Ocracoke, NC 27960. Thanks for any help you can give!

You can read our latest newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news021806.htm. It's the story of the US Life Saving Station on Ocracoke and the wreck of the A.F. Crockett on February 17, 1885.

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