Dalton Volunteer Fire Department honored

The Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce created a new award in 2012, called “Heroes Among Us.” The chamber had little trouble deciding on this year’s winner.

The recipient – recipients, rather – are all of the area fire departments. They earned the award because of the hard work while fighting the wildfires in 2012 that burned nearly 6000 acres in Cheyenne, Kimball and Banner Counties.

Awards are being given to the Sidney, Dalton, Potter, Gurley and Lodgepole volunteer fire departments. At the Chamber of Commerce banquet, all of the firemen were recognized. Now the physical awards are being given to the fire departments so that they can hang them up in the stations.

Wanda Brogren of the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce, says “What makes a hero? It is not something planned. A hero does not wake up one morning and decide they are going to do something heroic. A hero has a circumstance thrust upon them. And at that moment, without thinking, they are willing to do what it takes even if they sacrifice their time, their income, their personal life and sometimes their health and even their lives. A hero is not a fictional character, heroes are our friends, neighbors and strangers, who without our knowing it, will come to our aid no matter the cost to themselves.”

Brogren stated that one of the largest fires of 2012 the departments battled was the tri-county fire that started on a Thursday night when a lightning strike ignited a tree. The blaze eventually spread to almost 6000 acres.

The combined efforts of the fire departments and land owners helped to save livestock and a wheat field.

Brogren added that the fire fighters are not paid, this is not a job that they have to do; this is a commitment that they have chosen to do.