My Response to a Letter to the Editor

The Cynthiana Democrat published an interesting little letter this week, in which a woman voiced her complaints of an upcoming scheduled training exercise, where the Cynthiana Fire Department will be burning a building located on Walnut Street. Her letter reads as follows:

To the editor:

This letter is to inform the tax paying citizens of Cynthiana that on Nov.10, and 11, 2007, the City of Cynthiana has authorized the fire department to conduct a controlled burning of the properties located at 105 and 103 N. Walnut St. as a training exercise for the fire department and numerous other fire departments.

The public safety commissioner has said that because it is a controlled burn and that because they are not going to use gasoline as a fire starter that there will be no smoke. I am over 50 years old and have never seen a fire without smoke, no matter what it is started with. The buildings are vinyl sided and will give off plastic-like smoke some of the worst kind.

I was under the impression that the city commission was elected to look after the interest of the taxpayers. I am a taxpayer, as are a lot of your readers, and if they allow this to happen in the city limits they are putting tax payers property and health at great risk. I intend to legally hold the St. Edwards Catholic Church, City of Cynthiana, Cynthiana Fire Department and the State Fire Marshall responsible for any and all damages that I incur health or property wise.

We have all lived with the aftermath of fires: smoke smells, burnt building hulls and physical injury so I ask the question: Do we want to on purpose?

Martha Whitaker

While Ms. Whitaker raises a good point, that there will be some element of smoke caused by the fire, and that there may be an unpleasant aroma that will fill the town, she seems to be a little out of touch with her own words. She said that the “city commission was elected to look after the interest of the taxpayers.” Very true. That would be why the commission has allowed the fire department to burn these structures–for training. Fortunately, our city departments do not see many fires in the town, however, this causes a bit of a problem, as well. Without having a grand experience in fighting fires, and performing rescues and recovery, our men and women’s skills can lose their edge. So, which would you prefer, a team of men and women daringly entering a blaze to save you with little to no actual experience, or a team who has a few fires under their belt?
Also, on the initial burns, the buildings will be well under control, meaning very little fire and smoke–the department will want to keep these elements to a minimum, so that they can make use of the structures during the exercise. Large flames and smoke come only from a fire which has gone out of control, and has not been cared for from the beginning, has not been limited from growth. The greatest problem which shall effect the area will most likely be steam, from the continuous wetting of the building.
And, I believe that her claim to inform the public of the scheduled burning comes a bit late. I know of one instance where the public had been informed prior to her amazing announcement–on the morning of October 9, Rick Schwartz made the announcement on WCYN’s Coffeebreak.
So, to Ms. Whitaker, I hope that if you are so inclined to try and halt the burn, for concerns of your health and property, then please, do so by addressing your complaints to the city commission, or the state fire commission. And while you do so, please pray that neither you, nor anyone else within Cynthiana’s limits shall ever need the aid of a well trained fire department.