but the house and all the family’s belongings were destroyed.
However, the result of a fire can be much worse than losing a home or possessions. In November of 1996, two young boys perished in their home at 4312 112th St. NW, in Silver Creek. The sons of Kevin and Neysa Ballman: Dallas David, 11; and Dustin Paul, 5; were sleeping in their bedroom on the main level of the house, with their parents sleeping in the lower level. Firefighters arrived at about 1:33 a. m. on Friday, November 1, to find the house engulfed in flames. The Ballmans and neighbors had made repeated efforts to reach the boys, but were forced back by the heat and smoke. A bartender at the Silver Creek Corner Bar, about a block away, even threw a bicycle through a window on the main level in an attempt to rouse the boys. Dallas and Dustin were students at Monticello Public Schools.
In addition to fires, the fire department responds to all types of other emergencies, from medical calls, to downed powerlines, gas leaks, storm emergencies and vehicle crashes, which have included airplanes.
In October of 1996, high winds caused an ultra-light aircraft to plunge into a corn field between the airport and the Maple Lake High School practice football field. Coaches and members of the Irish football team rushed to the rescue, followed almost immediately by the fire department. But Charles R. Burch, 51, of Bloomington and Lawrence M. Ladoucer, 46, of Plymouth, died at the scene.
However, over the years, the quick and effective action by the Maple Lake Fire Department has saved lives and property in countless situations.
In April of 2001, the downtown area, including St. Timothy’s School, was evacuated when a gas line was ruptured by a contractor at the intersection of the railroad tracks and Oak Avenue. The rupture happened at about 10 a. m., with firefighters coming in to shut off a tractor that had the
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