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Todd McKenna
Special to The Journal-Standard
FREEPORT City fire officials are putting their focus on prevention and other safety measures, such as ensuring a working smoke detector is in your home, after battling a series of blazes so far this year. The whole idea is to eliminate the need for us through educational programs, smoke detectors and fire codes, Fire Chief Brad Liggett said. We re hoping to reduce the loss of life and property and make sure everything is in place to mitigate damage.
Going back to December, there have been four residential fires where flames and smoke were visible and gaining strength when Freeport Fire Department arrived at the scene. The majority of those calls were in the early morning hours.
Todd McKenna
Special to The Journal-Standard
FREEPORT A little more than 11 years ago when Hillary Broshous was introduced to the Freeport Fire Department, she really wasn t looking for a job.
She just wanted to see what kind of shape she was in. I had no interest in being on the fire department, she said with a smile. I really just wanted to see if I could pass the agility test.
After all, in February 2010, when she took the test, she was 34, which is one year younger than the maximum age allowed for new hires. So she showed up that day with no expectations other than to prove she was physically fit. She left, however, with people impressed enough to offer her a job.