Fire Department Receives Check

The Fabius-Park Fire Department recently received an insurance check for nearly $89,000 after much of its equipment was deemed a loss from a Nov. 3 fire in Park Township.

A chemical release at a site where barrels of highly corrosive chemicals were being stored resulted in contamination and the subsequent loss of nine air packs, nine sets of turnout gear, 13 oxygen bottles, six portable radios and 300 feet of hose.

Department officials said the health of all nine firefighters who responded to the scene also was checked for potential effects from the chemicals. Reports on all nine came back clean.

Investigators later found the chemicals were stored improperly, as barrels were not marked in accordance with EPA requirements and no paperwork to identify the chemicals was on hand.