Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari firefighters showed their support for first responders killed in the recent fertilizer plant blast in West, Texas.
QCS photo: Jerrene Bradley
Ed Shipley and Mark Martinez put up flags along the boulevard in support of West, Texas firefighters.
On Thursday, Gordon Runner, Ed Shipley and Mark Martinez placed flags around Tucumcari showing the department's support for their fallen brothers. Thousands of firefighters from around the country joined in paying respects to the families, friends and co-workers of the 10 firefighters who died battling the fire and explosion at the fertilizer plant.
Shipley said that putting flags out around Tucumcari was the least that they could do for firefighters who lost their lives. He said they put up about 50 flags.
Runner said he feels the incident in Texas opened up a lot of eyes.
QCS photo: Jerrene Bradley
Thursday morning Tucumcari firefighters put out flags in memory of the firefighters in West, Texas.
"When you get called out to a fire, being a volunteer you never know what you are going to encounter."
Runner said a lot of people don't realize volunteers have jobs and families that they leave to protect their community and the firefighters in Texas ended up paying the ultimate price. He said putting out the flags held a special meaning for him.
Runner said they place flags up around Tucumcari on special occasions and anyone or business that wants to have a flag can call 575-461-4400 to have this done for a donation of $25 a year. He said money collected for this goes into the Tucumcari Firefighters Association fund.