West Deer resident praises emergency response after fire, says ‘could’ve been a whole lot worse’
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Larry Hopper lost some expensive “tools and toys” when fire ripped through his West Deer garage Sunday, but he woke up Monday feeling grateful that the damage was limited to material items.
“Our fire department was so on point,” said Hopper, 42. “There was an army of people at my house, and, because of them, I still have a house to live in and my neighbor still has a house to live in.”
No injuries were reported.
Emergency crews responded to Hopper’s home along Ford Street just before 4:30 p.m. — and then again early Monday when the fire reignited about 7:40 a.m.
Flames tore through the detached garage Sunday and spread to an RV parked alongside the building. Dark smoke billowed above the neighborhood where Hopper grew up.
He moved into his Ford Street home in 2012.
West Deer Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 led the response.
Chief Luke Raynovich said everything fell into place for a good response.
“Even the time of day — most of our members are around on a Sunday evening — and having a hydrant across the street helped with establishing a quick water supply,” he said.
Hopper said he believes the fire started in the garage, but the cause has not been determined.
He credited the fire crews and police who responded to the incident, saying the flames were so intense they began melting the siding on the neighbor’s garage and threatened his chicken coop.
“They’re like pets to us,” Hopper said. “We could be looking at a lot worse of a situation. The response, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“Even this morning, when most of those guys were probably already at work, they dropped what they were doing to get here.”
Hopper, who races off-road motorcycles in the GNCC Series, was set to head south in three weeks for his first competition of the season.
Three of his motorcycles burned in the fire. It’s a loss he’s not consumed with.
“It’s unbelievable the amount of people who reached out and offered to lend me riding gear or even a motorcycle,” Hopper said. “I’ll figure it all out. But if you’re ever wondering if there’s good in the world, there is.
“We didn’t lose anything other than belongings, and that’s made it so much better to stomach.”