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Energy companies honored for fire response

T-L File Photo Firefighters from multiple departments respond to an Oct. 9 blaze on Fourth Street in Martins Ferry that destroyed several businesses. The fire was named the Belmont County Fire & Squad Officers Association's 2016 Incident of the Year, and four energy companies were honored for helping to fight the blaze.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — An Elite Oilfield Services employee is alive today because of the efforts and expertise of a volunteer firefighter.

An emotional man who identified himself only as “Brandon from Elite” interrupted the program during the Belmont County Fire and Squad Officers Association Appreciation Dinner to express his appreciation for the work its members do. He was on hand to represent Elite, which was one of four energy-related companies honored by the association for their response to the group’s “Incident of the Year” — the Oct. 9 blaze that damaged a large portion of Martins Ferry’s downtown business district.

Brandon told the story of an auto accident that nearly claimed his life. He was on his way to work from his Columbiana County home when he was involved in a very serious crash. As a result, Brandon said, his neck was broken, his airway was closed off and he was paralyzed and powerless to help himself.

An alert neighbor, who also happened to be a volunteer firefighter, heard the noise caused by the crash and left his home early to see what had happened. Brandon said that volunteer knew exactly what to do, opening Brandon’s airway and handling his spinal injury so carefully that the resulting paralysis lasted just two days and Brandon is able to walk, talk and work again today.

“You guys have a lot of impact,” the Elite representative told the association members in the room.

Brandon was able to give back in what he said he considers a small way beginning at 3:17 a.m. Oct. 9. That is when a fire was reported at Winter’s True Value Hardware, located at 5 S. Fourth St. in Martins Ferry. The building already was ablaze when firefighters arrived, and the fire spread quickly to surrounding businesses. The Belmont County and Jefferson County tanker task forces were called to assist, and Sunset Heights Chief James Delman noticed several oil- and gas-industry “water bottle” trucks at the site where the fire department tankers were filling up to haul water to the scene. The water bottles are used to haul large amounts of water to well sites for fracking operations.

Company representatives soon volunteered their equipment and resources to help battle the blaze, with four companies ultimately taking part. They included Elite Oilfield Services, RLD Trucking, AOS Trucking and Southwest Energy, all of which were honored at the dinner. In fact, Delman said, Southwest shut down a fracking operation in Ohio County while its trucks hauled water to the fire rather than to the well pad.

In total, 27 local fire departments helped to fight the fire that destroyed several businesses. In addition, 20 water bottle trucks from energy companies were at the scene, providing 142,000 of the 400,000 gallons of water used to douse the flames.

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