House Fire on M-65 in Curran Michigan

There was two fire fighters on the scene to try and put the fire out , at first both were not geard up and had no knowledge of how to start the pump on the truck , what kiind of fire fighters do we have in this town , I really would like to know , the house could of been saved if there was not a long delay to get everythng ready and more people on the team of fire fighter here in Curran , I'm very upset of how it all took place , and I feel so bad for the owners of the house , all the other fire fighters who helped I thank you for the great job you did , as for the Curran fire fighters I hope that I never need to call you , I would rather call on the others .

The house belonged to will and betty, they were both instrumental in starting the fire dept in 1976, will served as a firefighter in the early days, betty worked with the ladies aux to support the fire dept, This is a sad day for curran. Curran has seen a change over in firefighters and lacks educated firefighters, the Chief & Asst chief are husband and wife, the lack of younger people in Curran has hurt recruitment but the lack of training by the dept contributes to this type of incident, failing to gear up, not knowing how to operate the trucks, failing to make an interior attack on any house fires, Glennie fire dept rolls a mutual aid on most all structure fires.

The lack and knowledge the Curran fire fighters have in this town would be better off ran buy children , Will and Betty both served there time in the fire dept and decicated there time and effort in to the department , why couldn't the Curran fire Department do the same for them ? I hope that I never need them at all , would be better off to put the fire out myself .

Maybe the new township supervisor will look into the qualifications required first to be a fireman, second to be chief, maybe he could attend a fire meeting and see what goes on there, they got alot of nice equipment but knowledge is lacking - training - I under stand they have two people on the dept who are on disability but are allowed to make runs? scarey idea for a dangerous hobby,,

I feel bad for will and betty, they are good people and didnt deserve this.

Forgot to mention that Betty and Willie lost all of their musical instruments: guitars, piano, organ, ukeleles, etc in the fire.
Also, they need clothes.
Betty - size 12 slacks if elastic waist otherwise size 14 for regular waist both petite
She wears a medium top
Willie - size 40 waist, 29 inseam slacks/jeans and a large top.

After watching them two people from the Curran Fire Dept I thought how lucky we are to have
people on our Fire Dept that know what there doing
I feel sorry for the people of Curran.
God bless the people that lost there home.

I am glad most everyone on the scene of the fire saw what I did. It scares me to live in this town. Seeing how untrained these people are time after time. Something needs to be done about it and hopefully it will. Every time i looked at the curran fire dept. the werent doing anything. A big thank you to the other fire dept's that showed up. If i have a fire i will be calling other fire depts they will probably arrive quicker and trained.

I can not vouch for much after I left the Dept, but the "Sex Offender" left the dept after my first meeting as chief with the town board. NUF said? as far as the supervisor who was fired by sheriff, cant fault him as a firefighter, he has had my back on two fires, the house trailer we saved at south 65/72,, ya a house trailer, thanks to quick thinking on the owners part to wet towels and place under door, room flashed over when door opened but I managed to knock it down, vent it thru window and saved the trailer.
2- pallet shop fire in town, me and "supervisor" took turns between the shop and house next door to save the house, alum siding melted on house, we saved the house, We both had 1st degree burns from the heat that frozen night.
gene was chief and did a great job, he deserves the credit for the new hall and the well.
none of us are on the dept now,,,, sad!!
Since then it appears trained fireman are lacking,(attack firemen are a little crazy anyway) if the well and trucks are being misused, take a camera pic and turn in to new supervisor as I dont see any local roots growing from his feet. he would be the one to voice your discontent to if your a tax payer/voter,

HMM no response? well go to the next town board meeting and inquire and voice your concerns, or join the dept and become part of the solution to better firefighters and better training???

It would seem to me that the residents of the surrounding community need to rally behind the people in charge of their finances and come up with a plan to hire at least one full time, trained firefighter to man the station. Then they need to recruit volunteers and pay them when they go on a run. There are not really a lot of jobs to keep young people in your area...that is another issue in itself but you could at least try to get a plan in place to improve the system you have now and maybe through this effort you might discover other ways to entice young people to stay in your community and thrive there. If someone does come into the area with a store or service...be sure to support that person so they can stay and help you grow as a community! My suggestion would be to buy a home near the station for that firefighter and then the salary could be smaller to support him living there. That would be a one time cost verses having to pay a larger salary every year to entice a well trained firefighter to come and stay! I love Curran but you also have to love yourselves and come out and do what is right for your community!

the town is dying slowly, the board used to look at the dept as a drain on the budget, this is a part paid dept ;ie paid per run, chief and asst chief get monthly salerys, how much I dont know, but its alot more than the $50 a month I got as chief,,,, I at least didnt do it for the money. My family donated the 1/2 acre the hall is on, a full time township employee would be a nightmare as the chief would want it, or hand it to someone who is not quilified. Untill a business moves in that does NOT need water, sewer, or large electric use its not going to change, a retired community with an untrained Dept. I question the training of most of the members to actually be firefighters per michigan standards ( hint) research training and standards and check for level 2 or 240 hr cert,s required after two years on dept. fire dept is required to have all cert,s on file for inspection.

So you think most of the fire dept would not have enough training to actually be firefighters? this could explain what the people saw, Time for someone to approach the fire dept for a roster of all fire fighters, then ask to see all the firefighter state certificates and include the Chief and ASS Chief, maybe will and betty can sue the dept for failing to train and equip it members!!!

i dont who you people think you are but for one the pool filling as you call it was training for my husband to learn the firetruck and hosees and the pool dosent work we put it up just for water sake anyone can come and look no water in it and mike has been training my husband good and has started firefighter 1 and 2 so u people dont no what your talking about. my husband puts his life for this so call town very time that pager goes off and i pray everytime he leaves that he comes home. there is only 5 people on this dept, and all you people can do is complain. they work as hard as they can where are you people when the calls are out. at home sitting waiting to talk about thing that went wrong not that they tried. you need to stop and think what you say because one day it could be you and your home and i hope that it never happens. willy and betty said that curran did a great job and if dustin and them wouldnt broke out windows and fed the fire things could have been diffrent so get all the info straight be for you start downing things. im not affraid to have curran come to my need if ever needing it. you now whats wrong with this town to much talk and not enough love . mike you do the best job keep it up we are all behind you

Everyone seems to be making comments that they either cant or wont back up what they say. Our fire dept. has more new equipment in the last few years than before and yes we all know how to operate the equipment. New people are recuited, but most hav to work different hours. There are a total of 7 people on the department. We would be happy to have anyof you to join us, so instead of running your mouth come run a hose. As for the other departments commimg to help thats called mutual aide which is standred for all depts. We all have training for what we do so please dont make the mistake of listening to a few who cant make the cut to be on the department for reasons that are known to them only. i have known willie and Betty for a long time and I did not hear a complaint from them, it just seems to be the mob that wants to complain. I hav a idea come to the township meeting and make your complaints known there instead of hidding behind your computer where no one knows who you are. I am proud of our department, just like many others in this community.

OK do you or your better 1/2 have FF 2? please let me know how many of the 7 have completed FF 2, how many have level 1? level 2 is actually requirment after two years on the dept, state requirese it,, who has incident command? I think Mike does have incident command, he took it at the same time I did, Mutual aid has been in place since 1979, I dont rememeber seeing you at that meeting? I also have a picture of Willie, Lon Brown and Me digging foundations for the original hall. P.S. how long a splint does it take to splint a tib/fib fracture?? next time bring one longer that 18 inchs,,,,

THE Firefghters are trained and mutual aide is normal for most rural depts. U did get one thng correct it is sad that happened to them, a fre is most devistating.

ryan wrote:

The house belonged to will and betty, they were both instrumental in starting the fire dept in 1976, will served as a firefighter in the early days, betty worked with the ladies aux to support the fire dept, This is a sad day for curran. Curran has seen a change over in firefighters and lacks educated firefighters, the Chief & Asst chief are husband and wife, the lack of younger people in Curran has hurt recruitment but the lack of training by the dept contributes to this type of incident, failing to gear up, not knowing how to operate the trucks, failing to make an interior attack on any house fires, Glennie fire dept rolls a mutual aid on most all structure fires.

Hello, I was born in Curran,Mi. on Nov. 19,1919 in a little house on M-65. I don't know anything about firefighting. I have one small favor to ask PLEASE can we have a sign at the Curran Cemery,PLEASE repect the dead, it's only the right thing to do for them. We have vet's and war hero's there. GOD BLESSED.