By Sandra Hansen
The Star Herald
TORRINGTON, Wyo. — Suggestions on how to control the community fire that still burns in the Yoder Fire Protection District were acknowledged by district board members and for the most part set aside during a public meeting Tuesday evening at the Torrington Fire Hall. The meeting was called by other Goshen County fire departments in an attempt to bring some order to a situation that has consumed the Yoder Fire Department. However, Yoder Fire Protection District 5A President Mike Ridenour and district secretary Steve Halfhill delayed making any decision regarding suggestions from other departments and agencies.
The Yoder fire district board, which has financial responsibilities for the district/department expenses, has complained of lax record keeping by the department, and is concerned that half the firefighters live outside the district, which is located between the Veteran, Torrington and Hawk Springs districts, as well as the Huntley district, which has no fire department.
Emotions flared during a June 2 town meeting in Yoder when, in an effort to bring order to the Yoder Volunteer Fire Department, Ridenour and Halfhill passed a resolution that dismissed 10 volunteers who live outside the district boundaries, citing safety issues when those firefighters speed to get to a fire, as one reason for their action. The resolution resulted in the loss of the other half of the department who announced a leave of absence in support of their fellow firefighters. Dempsey Hansen, the third member of the district board, voted against the resolution.
Full story: Yoder fire department issues remain unresolved; fire protection still at issue