Camp Branch Acres Throwback Thursday: When the 356 Volunteer Fire Department Burned Up!

Y’all remember back in the day (July 17, 2011) when the 356 Volunteer Fire Department near Camp Branch Acres burned down faster than a squirrel on a greased pole? Yep, good ol’ Camp Branch Acres sure had a moment of glory that Sunday morning.

It’s like one of those stories that starts with “Hold my beer and watch this!” Except this time, it was more like, “Hold my hose and watch this burn.”

That early Sunday morning, our beloved 356 Volunteer Fire Department turned into a bonfire of epic proportions. Now, you’d think a fire station would be the last place to go up in flames, but irony sure loves company. Other fire departments showed up, but by then, the damage was done. Our station, a tanker, and three trucks? Toast.

And get this – the station wasn’t even insured. Nope, the only insurance they had was on the trucks, and just liability at that. I guess they figured fire wouldn’t dare mess with firefighters. Spoiler alert: It did.

Their budget was already drained after fighting a massive wildfire the previous month near Camp Branch Acres. They spent over a week battling that beast, and apparently, fuel isn’t free. Who knew?

In case you missed it, our 356 Volunteer Fire Department ain’t funded by tax dollars like the fancy departments in other counties. Nope, we run on donations and hand-me-downs. It’s like a thrift store, but for firefighting. The only thing missing was the bake sale.

But hey, hats off to Onalaska and Caney Creek Fire Departments for tossing a truck our way. It’s kinda like borrowing a cup of sugar, but, you know, with more horsepower. We still needed new protective gear, self-contained breathing apparatuses, fire hoses, fire trucks, and a new building. Basically, starting from scratch. Chief Jessie Baker said it best: “We’re basically starting from ground zero to rebuild.”

Oh, and the cherry on top? They suspect the blaze started from a faulty electrical switch on their brush truck. I reckon that’s what you call adding insult to injury. So, here’s to the good ol’ 356 Volunteer Fire Department by Camp Branch Acres. Glad they rebuilt, re-equipped, and maybe next time, get a little insurance. Until then, we’ll just keep gettin’er done, one beer at a time.