A two-hour manhunt for an Alzheimer patient by Project Lifesaver personnel ended successfully in Johnson County.
 
Fred Thompson, 83, walked away from his rural Bargersville residence sometime Tuesday afternoon. His wife discovered him missing about 3:15 p.m. and called for help.
 
Bargersville Community Fire Department personnel responded to the area of Thompson’s home along with Johnson County sheriff’s deputies.
 
As the minutes ticked away, BCFD Battalion Chief Michael Herron decided to activate a call for assistance from other agencies trained in locating Project Lifesaver clients. Those clients wear radio transmitters that allow their whereabouts to be found with directional antennas.
 
Within 15 minutes, White River Township and Franklin fire departments dispatched rescuers to the area southeast of Bargersville. Also, an Indiana State Police helicopter picked up a Wayne Township firefighter with special antenna equipment 30 minutes later at Greenwood Airport.
 
Later, additional Wayne Township firefighters and members of the Indianapolis Fire Department were called into the search and rescue effort.
 
Last year, Thompson left his home in extreme weather and was found by Herron with the electronic equipment sitting beside a tree-lined creek.
 
Teams of firefighters following radio signals searched woods and fields in search patterns from Thompson’s residence.
 
The signals were like a moving target. Sometimes they were easily detected and other times weak and sporadic.
 
The search team of about 40 firefighters, teams of Bargersville police and sheriff’s deputies were elated to learn Thompson had been found. A woman notified authorities that she had given Thompson a ride to a Bargersville gasoline station at Ind. 135 and Ind. 144.
 

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Electricity can be a dangerous source of power when abused, neglected and worst of all, not respected.
 
Firefighters often encounter charged power lines at residence fires, vehicle crashes and after storms. There is no way of knowing whether a line is charged or not without professional help.
 
Here’s the No. 1 safety rule recommended by Duke Energy experts to Bargersville Community Fire Department personnel: When in doubt about whether power lines are charged or not, call your electric company for help. Do not take chances that are unnecessary and dangerous when a line is against a tree or has fallen onto the ground.
 
 Electricity can, and often does, seek to move through a tree’s branches. That surge can result in death.
 
Duke conducted three classes recently for BCFD.
 
Those light green boxes sitting in yards and near homes in some areas are more than likely holding a transformer for underground electric service. Respect them too, and remember there’s probably 7,200 volts or more feeding into those boxes. When it floods, stay away from them, period.
 
The power moving across overhead lines along roads and through neighborhoods can’t be heard or seen.
 
But this powerful resource that drives our heating systems, lights, computers and a host of other appliances and machines also presents dozens of dangers for firefighters, police, homeowners and motorists when something goes wrong.
 
Without proper training and respect, electricity can kill and critically injure in split seconds.
 
Because of safety efforts by a host of industries, we use electric power daily without fear of injury. But when respect for the energy source wanes, people sometimes die or are seriously injured.
 
If in doubt, call your power company for assistance.

It was a great week at the Johnson County Fair for Austin Porter, son of BCFD Lt. David Porter.
The 13-year-old won a champion banner for being the outstanding beef showman in his age bracket early in the week.
Then Wednesday night, his steer was selected as the fair’s Grand Champion.
Proud father David Porter said he believed the judge’s selection was the result of a lot of hard work on the part of his son.
 “The steer was really good and Austin showed him really well,” the elder Porter said. “I am really proud of Austin.”

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Families of Bargersville Community Fire Department firefighters with deep agricultural roots and exposure enjoyed showing animals and exhibits at the 2010 Johnson County 4-H and Agricultural Fair.
 
The depth of participation drew applause from farm families and city slickers who appreciated the children’s efforts as well as the parents and grandparents who extended a few helping hands along the way.
 
Three BCFD families garnered Champion recognition from fair judges and other fire family participants were honored with hugs and slaps on the back.
 
Grand Champion Pygmy Doe goat was raised and shown by Riley Tharpe, 11, son of BCFD Lt. Tom Tharpe.
 
The insect collection of Carly Morris, 17, daughter of BCFD Battalion Chief Michael Morris, knocked out a Grand Champion ribbon in the Entomology category. Her display included nine years of insect collecting.
 
Another championship was awarded to Austin Porter, 13, son of BCFD Lt. David Porter, for his intermediate beef showmanship.
 
Other fire department family children who participated Tuesday at the fair included Brittany and  Autum Foster, 13-year-old daughters of Battalion Chief Rod Hayes. The girls showed sheep for the first time.

 
Heat kills and injures more people than any other weather event such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and lightening, according to the National Weather Service.
 
Health warnings were issued early Thursday by the National Weather Service and Johnson County Emergency Management.
 
Summer heat waves can endanger the health of first responders, too. Firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics are among the most susceptible to heat related injuries.
 
The physical and mental demands associated with emergency operations, coupled with the environmental dangers of extreme heat and humidity, create conditions that adversely affect the health and impair the safety of responder personnel. With extreme heat pushing the thermometer toward 100 degrees and humidity creeping high too, dangerous conditions could cause heat illnesses for people and pets.

Medical warnings suggest drinking lots of fluids and staying out of the sun.
 

If possible, stay in air-conditioned rooms.

Small animals also should have plenty of water available and if possible keep them indoors, too. If left outside, animals not only should have water, but shade also.

It is recommended that friends and neighbors check on each other frequently. If you see neighbors pets left outside, make sure they have water available.

High heat and humidity create dangerous conditions and should be treated with extreme caution.
 

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A collision between a car and SUV on Ind. 37 at Travis Road caused the SUV to overturn onto its top.
The accident occurred Thursday about 10:40 a.m.
One female passenger in the overturned vehicle was trapped in the wreckage until freed by Bargersville Community Fire Department rescuers. She was taken by Rural/Metro ambulance to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Her injuries were not believed life-threatening.
The injured woman’s adult daughter was driving the SUV. Two children in the vehicle were not seriously injured.
The occupants of the car were not seriously injured.
Johnson County sheriff’s investigators said the SUV was northbound on Ind. 37 when it collided with the car as it crossed the highway on Travis Road.

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Five people were injured July 2 after an eastbound van slammed into the driver’s side of a SUV being driven across Stones Crossing Road immediately west of Ind. 135.
Bargersville Community Fire Department and White River Township firefighters responded to the incident shortly before noon.
 
Four of the victims were children. They were taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. The woman driving the overturned vehicle accompanied the children to the hospital. She was not seriously injured.
 
None of the injuries were believed life-threatening. All the victims were riding in the SUV that overturned into the south curb near a strip center entrance. Arriving firefighters found some of the children dangling upside down, bound by their safety belts.
 
Rural/Metro dispatched five ambulances to the scene.
The cause of the crash was being investigated by Johnson County sheriff’s deputies.

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Center Grove High School safely hosted the National Association of Student Councils’ national convention this year.

 

Bargersville Community Fire Department Lt. David Porter inspected the campus for safety hazards on Friday and only a few minor changes were made.

 

“The facility planning for such a major event was outstanding,” Porter said.

 

The convention started its high-powered auto race theme program on Saturday and continued the contest through Tuesday.

 

About 1,300 students and volunteers safely participated in the activities.

 

 

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A 3-man team of Lifeline helicopter lifesavers introduced BCFD to its new $7 million air ambulance Tuesday afternoon.
 
The flight team included Andras Erdelyi, pilot, Timothy Short, registered nurse, and Jarrod Sights, paramedic. The group is stationed at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
 
The team collectively passed along information to the fire department to ensure patient and firefighter safety at emergency scenes.
 
Additionally, the air team detailed safety hazards they often encounter while approaching accident scenes. Some of the dangers were identified as power lines, tall poles, nearby buildings, soft ground the craft could sink into and obstacles that could pierce the aircraft’s body.
Another concern is fast-changing weather conditions that limit visibility and storms with high winds.
 
The Clarian Health-owned helicopter would rather be called to an emergency scene shortly after the incident occurs rather than delay the response.
 
The request could could always be canceled.

A Woodland Streams woman saw smoke surrounding her home's Newhouse Place swimming pool  June 11 and called BCFD.

Firefighters found a small fire near the pool's natural gas heating and pumping system.

The early detection resulted in the fire being put out quickly. Minimum visible damage was noted.

How the fire started was not immediately determined.

Firefighters told the homeowner to have the  heating and pumping unit examined by a technician.

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A Franklin childcare and preschool toured BCFD Station 1 on June 8 and 24 students learned firsthand about fire safety and a firefighter’s job.
 
The children from Kid Company Preschool & Childcare, 189 North Lovers Lane, Franklin IN, learned not to fear a firefighter wearing protective gear. They also learned why firefighters have the safety equipment.
 
The visitors varied in age between six and 12 years.
 
At first, the children were reluctant to get too close to a firefighter wearing his gear, but that changed quickly after the first child overcame her fear of the strange looking man whose voice was distorted.
“He sounds funnyyyyyyy,” one little girl said.
 
It was a great morning for the children, who climbed through an engine and sat in a firefighter’s seat inside the huge vehicle’s cab.

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With temperatures in the upper 80’s Friday afternoon, Cayman Jarvis displayed the coolness of an astute businessman while watching 90 school-age boys battle through game after game of 3-on-3 basketball.
Cayman didn’t care who won top honors. What he wanted was a huge monetary reward for Riley Hospital for Children. He was hoping for $20,000 – twice what he raised last year.
Here’s the scoop, as reported by the Indianapolis Star.
 
By Diana Penner
Posted: June 3, 2010
A Bargersville teenager's commitment to raise money to ensure patients at Riley Hospital for Children have fun has grown for five years.
And 14-year-old Cayman Jarvis hopes Friday's 3-on-3 basketball tournament is the biggest ever.
The first event, in 2006, inspired by Cayman's friend Tyler Genneken, raised about $1,500 for Riley's Cheer Guild, which buys toys and games for Riley patients.
This year, Cayman hopes to raise $20,000, twice what he raised last year.
He has extra incentive: Tyler, who had battled leukemia, died in November, so this is the first fundraiser without him.
"So that's why we're trying to make everything bigger," Cayman said.
In addition, Cayman's grandmother recently was diagnosed with cancer, and although she won't be a "Riley Kid," it brings home to him the threat of cancer.
"That makes me want to work harder for what I do," he said.
As he has in the past, Cayman has persuaded the city to block off his street so multiple basketball goals can be set up. He already has business pledges totaling more than $14,000, and those names will be printed on T-shirts his grandmother donates. His father will prepare hamburgers all day Friday, and they are free, but donations are appreciated.
Tournament participants -- boys only, middle school to high school age -- pony up $5 each to play for trophies, pride and just doing a little good.
Cayman just finished eighth grade at Center Grove Middle School Central and will be a freshman at Center Grove High School in the fall.
Friday's competition will be in the first block of East Harriman Avenue in Bargersville, beginning about 1:30 p.m. Players should be registered before 1 p.m.
Donations made out to Riley's Cheer Guild also can be mailed to Cayman Jarvis, 96 E. Harriman Ave., Bargersville IN 46106.

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One woman was injured and another woman and two small children were shaken in a two-vehicle crash on Ind. 37 at Travis Road.

 

The crash occurred about 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

 

The injured woman was taken to St. Francis Hospital South Campus by a Rural/Metro ambulance crew.

 

The victim was riding in a southbound car that clipped the rear of a small Jeep crossing Ind. 37 west on Travis Road.

 

The car careened off the highway and over an embankment southwest of the intersection.

 

The Jeep’s driver was not injured.

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 Bargersville Community Fire Department Station 2 firefighters and volunteers spread mulch, pulled weeds, cleaned carpet, stained new wooden trim and painted the building’s conference room.
 
 
For 15 hours, the 11-member team worked to spruce up the station and do the spring cleaning.
 
A team of six firefighters and five Explorer Scouts trimmed trees and spread 10 cubic-yards of mulch around nearly a dozen trees across the multiacre-acre station's grounds.
 
Shrubs around the building also received a layer of fresh mulch, and all the mulch areas was edged.
 
Trees and shrubs were trimmed, too.
 
It was a general clean-up day for the station that included removing insects from light fixtures. In addition to the new wooden trim in the conference room, a new dry eraser board was installed.
 
“The results are fantastic,” said BCFD Chief James White. “The guys did a lot of work in one day.”
 

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Firefighters must practice drafting water from dump tanks because much of Bargersville Community Fire District’s 64 square miles is without fire hydrants.
Division Training Chief Michael Tibbetts dedicated three consecutive shifts this week for firefighters to rehearse their dump tank skills.
The spray from hoses was welcomed as morning temperatures soared.
The warmer weather provided a relaxed training atmosphere for firefighters as hundreds of gallons of water was released from a tanker into a portable plastic-lined pool.
The exercises allowed firefighters to practice using tankers to fill the pool, establishing a draft with the engine’s pump and utilizing various types of hoses and nozzles to deliver water.
A recent maintenance overhaul of an engine pump was successfully tested during one day’s training.
At the end of the training days, Tibbetts applauded the talents and skills of firefighters engaged in the exercises.