Serving all of Eastern Laramie County since 1908

Articles written by Warren Wittstruck


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  • Protecting the "Axe"

    Warren Wittstruck|Mar 7, 2024

    It's teamwork that protects the axe The Axe is one of the most ancient tools known to mankind. From its inception during the Stone Age (c. 2000 BCE), the stone head axe was made of sharpened flint. First used to cut down trees for firewood, to kill and butcher animals for food, and to defend against predatory animals or the enemy of a village. In the Bronze Age (c. 3200-600 BCE), the axe head was made of bronze, an alloy of copper, tin, arsenic, and other metals. Its function was the same as...

  • District 5 Rob Cleveland Recipients

    Warren Wittstruck|Feb 29, 2024

    This is a true story about the Rob Cleveland Award. Rob Cleveland led by example with honesty, courage, honor and dignity to support those around him. His service to public safety in Laramie County and surrounding communities set an example of true leadership for all first responders. The recipient of this award has gone above and beyond to show their support and coordination to the Laramie County Fire Chiefs Association. The commitment to service over the last year has shown exemplary...

  • Firefighter Academy Brotherhood

    Warren Wittstruck|Feb 29, 2024

    Fire Academy students can expect to complete about 600 hours of training total, over the course of 18 to 24 weeks. Some students want to become fulltime firefighters because they love the duties of being a first responder. The Fire Academy consists of academic classes, physical conditioning, EMT knowledge, and hundreds of firefighting skills. Student Sage Long, age 18 from Burns, Wyoming is among the volunteers who are currently attending the 2024 Laramie County Fire Academy in Cheyenne. Fellow...

  • Letter to the Editor

    Warren Wittstruck|Aug 3, 2023

    Have you thought much about if tomorrow never comes? Did you do everything you could do to show how much the one you love means to you? Could your life or someone you love suddenly become terminally ill or pass away before the next day comes? Well, that day will come. As we watch America fall and its politics go array, don't forget the ones you love. There is no way to reverse time. It is up to us to do things in the present time to avoid the price of regret and the pain that regret brings for...

  • Local Fire Districts do live training in area

    Warren Wittstruck|May 11, 2023

    When there is smoke there may be dangerous fires. LCFD#5 has been busy preparing for Wildland Fires 2023 by offering the S-190/ S-130 training to dozens of local volunteer firefighters as well as many volunteers from neighboring Laramie County Districts. This recent event included nearly forty hours of training provided by local certified National Wildfire Instructors. Sunday included hands on training to fight and control wildland fire applications with proper personal protection clothing, tool...

  • LCFD No. 5 - Volunteers with dedication and heart

    Penny Merryfield with Warren Wittstruck|Feb 2, 2023

    The sirens go off, and suddenly there is an influx of traffic heading to the local fire station. Such dedication these men and women have for their communities. This goes without saying for Pine Bluffs. Most small towns house a volunteer fire department, and this is true in our area. Their dedication, service and heart drives them to continue serving on the fire department. Yes they have heart and here is a declaration from a fire department volunteer. "If you were to ask me what makes a...

  • Emergency lights slow down - move over

    Warren Wittstruck|Feb 17, 2022

    Emergency Lanes are needed for emergencies. Recently while responding to a semi trailer fire on the Interstate, I personally observed how important the emergency lanes are to fire and rescue operations. That day the Westbound Interstate was blocked by an semi trailer fire and our fire trucks needed to get to that trailer to help extinguish the blazing fire creating smoke that was blinding traffic. Luckily the emergency lane we needed was still open but it was a dangerous squeeze to cross the overpass with only inches from being too small for...

  • Why we need Volunteers

    Warren Wittstruck|Dec 30, 2021

    How many businesses have you visited this year that had signs “HELP NEEDED”?  How many businesses have you seen close their doors and liquidate or go bankrupt?  How many signs have you seen on business doors that business hours have been reduced due to lack of help?  How difficult is it to find a handyman or a person to do needed repairs or simply mow your lawn or shovel your sidewalks covered in snow? My point is, what will we do if we lose power and the grids shutdown due to an EMP strike?  If our local society is closed down because...

  • 911 Calling Volunteers

    Warren Wittstruck, Laramie Co. Fire Dist. No. 5|Jul 29, 2021

    June 17th is a day that I won't forget. That day was my first response to a CAD call which was to assist EMS to help rescue a longtime friend. I arrived at the station and nobody was there but two cars parked which means that EMS had already left to respond to this call. So, I reviewed the location of the incident report on my cell phone CAD map and decided to head that way in my own truck. Sure enough, it was the street my friend lived on and I could see the ambulance parked in his driveway....

  • Highway Safety and why we need it....

    Warren Wittstruck|Jul 1, 2021

    The Laramie County Fire District No. 5 is sharing a subject that is one of the least discussed in today’s fast pace driving world. It is called by some as Initial Blocking at Highway Incident Scenes. “While on a recent fire call response, I witnessed the importance of knowing basic highway safety rules.” said Firefighter Wittstruck. By state law people are to reduce their traveling speed and move into the left lane. Drivers are to vacate the right lane on an Interstate when approaching a vehicle or emergency equipment parked on the right...

  • Everyday heroes and why we need them

    Warren Wittstruck|Jun 10, 2021

    The 3,000-gallon Port-a-tank – LCFD5 volunteer training exercise 05/24/2021 The port-a-tanks are used by the fire department for emergency use to supply a temporary water resource for fire trucks when there are no nearby fire hydrants. The demand for water can exceed the water carried by the fire tank trucks dispatched to the fire scene so they now carry port-a-tanks. Grassland and rural home fires are just two examples of no hydrants nearby. These portable tanks are easily carried on the side...

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