Van Buren fire chief challenges local fire departments

    Van Buren Fire Chief Dana Violette presented a $100 gift from his department to the Aroostook County Branch of the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross and challenged all Aroostook County Fire Departments to do the same.     The Houlton and Fort Kent Fire Departments have responded to the Van Buren challenge with $100 gifts of their own. Their donations and all others provided by Aroostook County fire departments, will be used by the local Red Cross Chapter to provide local disaster relief to County fire, flood and storm victims.
    “Aroostook County has seen an above average number of fires this past year,” said Violette. “The Pine Tree Chapter serves our area with a great team of trained disaster volunteers, hard working people coming from all over Aroostook County. They respond in a hurry and have often provided assistance to families even before we clear the scene, even in sub-zero temperatures.”
    “There seems to be no rest from local disasters like house fires these days,” agreed Joyce Knorr, the Red Cross Aroostook County branch manager from her office in Caribou. “We are so appreciative of Chief Violette’s challenge and support because large or small, disasters can happen to any one of us at any time. The increase in local disasters, together with the tough economy, means that financial help is needed now more than ever. The Red Cross spent nearly $25,000 on direct emergency assistance this year, and is ready to respond every day because help can’t wait.”
    The local Red Cross receives no support from the federal, state, or county government, Knorr says, and none from the national office of the American Red Cross. All local disaster relief and blood collections are supported by generous contributions of money, services, goods and time from local individuals, businesses, and towns and of blood from County men and women.
    For more than 90 years, the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross has served the people of northern and eastern Maine with disaster relief, Armed Forces Emergency communication, community preparedness, and health and safety training services to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Fire departments responding to Violette’s Red Cross support challenge should contact him at the Van Buren Fire Department.     
    For more information about making a donation to the local Red Cross or becoming a Red Cross volunteer, call Knorr at 493-4620.