By Marcus Huff
Staff Writer 

Rising from the ashes

Ten Sleep ready to rebuild fire hall

 


TEN SLEEP — It was a story that captured the country’s imagination: a small western fire hall ablaze on a quiet winter night, burning to the ground as the town’s firefighters stood helplessly by, keeping horrified townspeople at bay and safe from danger. Neighboring communities rushed over mountain passes and across the badlands to render help as flames engulfed trucks and equipment; oxygen tanks and tires exploded, lighting up an otherwise peaceful evening.

In the West, where fire tamed the toughest of towns, from Tombstone and Deadwood to San Francisco and Guthrie, the small town of Ten Sleep is bouncing back, and like those devastated before them, learning from their lessons.

Ruled an accidental fire fed by a propane line puncture by insurance and fire inspectors, the Jan. 31, 2015, blaze that destroyed the Ten Sleep Fire Hall immediately sparked a sense of community, even with those who have never stepped foot in the small town, nestled at the foot of the Big Horns. On Feb. 1, the donations started rolling in, from all across the United States.

“It really was remarkable,” Norman Mullis said, 31-year veteran firefighter and chief of the all-volunteer Ten Sleep Fire Department. “We were receiving 15 to 20 donations per week, from as far away as fire departments in New York City.”

Initially, Governor Matt Mead said that grants would be available to help the small department. “They never materialized,” Mullis said. “I guess that just went away.”

After a story in Firehouse magazine, envelopes started arriving from children and adults, firefighters and civilians, sometimes just $5 donations, sometimes more, almost always in cash. The Wyoming communities of Cody, Dubois, Meeteetse, Thermopolis and Worland immediately offered gear and trucks. Townships such as Douglas and corporations such as Devon and Budweiser wrote checks without a second thought. Bikers and civic groups presented the fire department with even more money, wrought from fundraisers and poker runs. Soon, donations totaled in the hundreds of thousands, according to Mullis.

“Overall, we received $145,000,” Mullis said. In addition to the money, the Dubois and Worland fire departments donated structure trucks outright. And the money has come in handy, as the department, not covered under the Town of Ten Sleep budget, utilized $70,000 to purchase two water tenders and a rescue truck. Another $19,000 was used to purchase new, upgraded equipment.

After an insurance settlement of $296,488 and a state grant for and additional $90,000, the Town of Ten Sleep signed a contract with Roy Decker and Sons, Inc., to begin construction on the new $427,524 fire hall, effective Sept. 1. (The original fire hall was built in 2003 for a cost of $99,606.73.) The Ten Sleep Fire Department has agreed to pay $75,000 into the new building, to allow for extra space for the new equipment and an improved, safer heating system. To be built with an eye to the past and benefitting a tough western town, the “fire red” house will be made of steel and will feature a more sturdy foundation than ever before.

Overall, Chief Mullis is just relieved that no one got hurt, and looks forward to the future with his re-outfitted firefighters and Assistant Fire Chief Shane Starbuck. “The new fire house should be pretty nice,” Mullis remarked. “I just wish more young men would consider firefighting. We need EMTs more than we need more money.”

 
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