County Fire Association Continues Work Of Late Fire Chief
June 19, 2020 at 1:51 a.m.
County Fire Association Continues Work Of Late Fire Chief
By David [email protected]
At $23,000 each, it would take a lot of fundraising, but the Winona Lake Volunteer Fire Department chief wanted to make it happen.
Unexpectedly, before he could see his plan come about, Titus died May 5, 2019, from injuries suffered in a workplace accident May 3, 2019.
His firefighter brothers didn’t let his plan fade away, and Thursday evening at the Kosciusko County Fire Association meeting at the Winona Lake Fire Department, the first Ramsfan VX PowerStream ventilation fan – named Titus 1 – was unveiled.
“Mitch Titus, this was his baby, and he was taken from us before he got it finished. It’s up to us to finish it. Mitch is with us every meeting,” said KCFA President Kevin McSherry before a demonstration of the fan was given.
Donors for Titus 1 included Mike and Rita Lewis Family, Winona Lake Fire Department, Silver Lake Fire Department, Grace College, Paragon Medical, Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing, and Complete Fleet.
McSherry read a letter from Mike Lewis to him and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Mike Wilson. Lewis was unable to attend Thursday’s meeting.
“Thank you, Mike and Kevin, and all others involved in the work you do to bring this machine to our county. I also want to thank all the fire personnel and all the first responders of Kosciusko County here tonight and the ones that couldn’t be here,” the letter states. “You need to know how much Lewis Salvage has appreciated your dedication to your jobs and the help you have provided us when we need you. For that you have been our heroes.”
In the letter, Lewis said when he first asked Wilson if there was something he could do for fire departments that would keep Titus’s name in the forefront, Wilson didn’t hesitate to tell Lewis about the machine.
“I see it as something Mitch got started and I felt it was very important to him and you to help all the county businesses and residents. I also will assist in asking for other county businesses and individuals to come forward with funds so that you may be able to buy one or two more of these machines to keep in different parts of the county so the fire departments can quickly clear smoke from structures at a high rate,” the letter states.
While Titus 1 will be in the central part of the county, the plan is to raise enough money to buy two more fans, the next one for the northern part of the county and the third one for the southern part.
Donors present then were recognized at the KCFA meeting. Silver Lake Fire Department Chief John Conley introduced Roger Bradford from Kerlin Bus. Winona Lake Assistant Chief Mike Raymer introduced Cory Colman, group vice president, and Tabitha Cooper, marketing, from Paragon Medical.
McSherry told the donors, “With your help, and the help of the Lewis Family, we were able to buy that $23,000 machine out there.”
After the demonstration, on behalf of Paragon Medical, Colman said, “Our quality of life statement talks about enhancing quality of life for those whose well-being depends on our economic success. We couldn’t think of something better than being able to donate to those people that put their lives at risk to be able to help us and our families and our communities than being able to participate in donating to this project for the fire departments.”
Joe Baranowski, a resident of Winona Lake, also gave toward the fan. “I just feel that it’s the right thing to do, is to help the fire department. It’s just the right thing to do.”
Before the KCFA meeting, McSherry highlighted the different aspects of the power vent fan.
Besides blowing air out, the fan “also has a water system in it that it can blow cold mist out and cool firemen on a hot day like today at a structure fire,” McSherry said. “It can show up and serve a couple different purposes. The fan has a hydraulic tilt so if you want to direct the air, you don’t have to jack up the tongue crazy, it’ll tilt.”
He said the fan can be turned on when needed and then be left on until it’s not needed anymore. It has a horsepower of 20.
McSherry said Titus was the chairman of the fundraising committee for the machines, which were his idea. “He took the bull by the horns, but unfortunately, he didn’t get to finish it. So we’re pushing it in his honor,” McSherry said. “It’s just another fine example of the county association working together for the good of the order in the whole county.”
Donations are being accepted for the next two power vent fans. McSherry said donations can be sent to John Conley or given to any of the county fire chiefs who will get it to the county association. Checks should be written out to the Kosciusko County Fire Association.
Jody Titus, Mitch’s wife, said, “Mitch’s goal, the department’s goal, was to get three fans, that way they can kind of evenly space them out throughout the county. Just getting one is great, but I would really love to see him reach his goal of getting three of them. And I just think that would be such an honor for his memory if we could do that.”
Latest News
E-Editions
At $23,000 each, it would take a lot of fundraising, but the Winona Lake Volunteer Fire Department chief wanted to make it happen.
Unexpectedly, before he could see his plan come about, Titus died May 5, 2019, from injuries suffered in a workplace accident May 3, 2019.
His firefighter brothers didn’t let his plan fade away, and Thursday evening at the Kosciusko County Fire Association meeting at the Winona Lake Fire Department, the first Ramsfan VX PowerStream ventilation fan – named Titus 1 – was unveiled.
“Mitch Titus, this was his baby, and he was taken from us before he got it finished. It’s up to us to finish it. Mitch is with us every meeting,” said KCFA President Kevin McSherry before a demonstration of the fan was given.
Donors for Titus 1 included Mike and Rita Lewis Family, Winona Lake Fire Department, Silver Lake Fire Department, Grace College, Paragon Medical, Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing, and Complete Fleet.
McSherry read a letter from Mike Lewis to him and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Mike Wilson. Lewis was unable to attend Thursday’s meeting.
“Thank you, Mike and Kevin, and all others involved in the work you do to bring this machine to our county. I also want to thank all the fire personnel and all the first responders of Kosciusko County here tonight and the ones that couldn’t be here,” the letter states. “You need to know how much Lewis Salvage has appreciated your dedication to your jobs and the help you have provided us when we need you. For that you have been our heroes.”
In the letter, Lewis said when he first asked Wilson if there was something he could do for fire departments that would keep Titus’s name in the forefront, Wilson didn’t hesitate to tell Lewis about the machine.
“I see it as something Mitch got started and I felt it was very important to him and you to help all the county businesses and residents. I also will assist in asking for other county businesses and individuals to come forward with funds so that you may be able to buy one or two more of these machines to keep in different parts of the county so the fire departments can quickly clear smoke from structures at a high rate,” the letter states.
While Titus 1 will be in the central part of the county, the plan is to raise enough money to buy two more fans, the next one for the northern part of the county and the third one for the southern part.
Donors present then were recognized at the KCFA meeting. Silver Lake Fire Department Chief John Conley introduced Roger Bradford from Kerlin Bus. Winona Lake Assistant Chief Mike Raymer introduced Cory Colman, group vice president, and Tabitha Cooper, marketing, from Paragon Medical.
McSherry told the donors, “With your help, and the help of the Lewis Family, we were able to buy that $23,000 machine out there.”
After the demonstration, on behalf of Paragon Medical, Colman said, “Our quality of life statement talks about enhancing quality of life for those whose well-being depends on our economic success. We couldn’t think of something better than being able to donate to those people that put their lives at risk to be able to help us and our families and our communities than being able to participate in donating to this project for the fire departments.”
Joe Baranowski, a resident of Winona Lake, also gave toward the fan. “I just feel that it’s the right thing to do, is to help the fire department. It’s just the right thing to do.”
Before the KCFA meeting, McSherry highlighted the different aspects of the power vent fan.
Besides blowing air out, the fan “also has a water system in it that it can blow cold mist out and cool firemen on a hot day like today at a structure fire,” McSherry said. “It can show up and serve a couple different purposes. The fan has a hydraulic tilt so if you want to direct the air, you don’t have to jack up the tongue crazy, it’ll tilt.”
He said the fan can be turned on when needed and then be left on until it’s not needed anymore. It has a horsepower of 20.
McSherry said Titus was the chairman of the fundraising committee for the machines, which were his idea. “He took the bull by the horns, but unfortunately, he didn’t get to finish it. So we’re pushing it in his honor,” McSherry said. “It’s just another fine example of the county association working together for the good of the order in the whole county.”
Donations are being accepted for the next two power vent fans. McSherry said donations can be sent to John Conley or given to any of the county fire chiefs who will get it to the county association. Checks should be written out to the Kosciusko County Fire Association.
Jody Titus, Mitch’s wife, said, “Mitch’s goal, the department’s goal, was to get three fans, that way they can kind of evenly space them out throughout the county. Just getting one is great, but I would really love to see him reach his goal of getting three of them. And I just think that would be such an honor for his memory if we could do that.”
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092