First News from Tarkington

LIBERTY, September 2, 2008 - Around midnight on Friday, as the heavy rains and high winds of Hurricane Ike began to inundate the area, Tarkington firefighters were dispatched to a report of a structure fire on SH105 just east of FM2518. 

Tarkington Engine 51 arrived on location to find the old Longhorn Café fully involved.   Captain Russell Reed immediately requested assistance from Cleveland and Cypress Lakes fire departments.  However, after fighting the wind-driven fire for nearly an hour, the decision was made to cease efforts and return to the station.  By that time, wind speeds had increased to the point to where it was unsafe to drive on the roads.  By Saturday evening, the structure was a total loss.

However, that was not the only damage sustained.  Tarkington firefighters were dispatched numerous times on Saturday and Sunday for reports of trees on houses and across roads, along with many reports of power lines down.  Crews worked diligently to clear the path and rescue those trapped.   Many roofs in the area were torn off, including the roof at the Tarkington Community Center, while others sustained damage.

By Sunday evening, most roads were cleared of trees, although many are still under water and are impassable.  Electricity is out in all of Tarkington and might be for several days.  While many are surviving on generators, fuel for those is becoming scarce as few gas stations in the area are open and those that are have very, very long lines.

Tarkington VFD is urging that those who evacuated not return to the area at this time.  Resources are stretched thin as the area tries to recover from this devastating blow, meaning emergency response might be delayed, and those returning only add to the problem.

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