By Bruce Rolfe
An unusual high number of structure fires along with calls for service following a tornado that was confirmed in the City of Galesburg May 15 has left the Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Department and neighboring fire departments very busy over the last two months.
Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Chief Kevin Roomsberg said the National Weather Service states an EF0 tornado touched down in the City of Galesburg May 15 with winds reaching approximately 80 miles per hour.
He said it appears the tornado may have touched down on 35th Street on the north side of the railroad tracks and proceeded towards the Washington, Division, Burgess and Grant Street areas. Roomsberg said Michigan Growers located at the corner of McCollum and M-96 suffered heavy damage losing roof panels. He adds an entire roof blew off another building at the location.
The City of Galesburg and surrounding area was without power for multiple days.
Downed trees and power outages were also reported in the Village of Climax and Climax Township.
Roomsberg said most of the calls his department responded to were for wires and trees down. He said the local fire department finished with calls at approximately 4:30 a.m. May 16, however they were toned out again at approximately 8 a.m. to return to a scene they were dispatched to earlier.
The Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Department has responded to five structure fires in the municipality’s jurisdiction since March 11. He said the local fire department typically responds to one or two structure fire calls in the City of Galesburg or Charleston Township in a year, with over six months remaining in 2025.
The local fire chief said none of the structure fires were suspicious.
The string of structure fires started March 11 on South 38th Street in Charleston Township.
The local fire department, along with neighboring fire departments, also responded to house fires on McCollum, Burgess, and Michigan Avenue in the City of Galesburg, and a barn fire May 12 on 44th Street north of Roof Cemetery in Charleston Township.
Roomsberg said the barn on 44th Street, and houses on Michigan Avenue and McCollum Street are total losses.
He said there were no injuries in all five structure fire calls, however three dogs died and one cat was saved at the Burgess Drive fire. Roomsberg said a dog died in the McCollum Street fire and two cats died in the Michigan Avenue fire.
The local fire chief said his department have special oxygen masks made for animals and firefighters and ambulance staff administered oxygen.
attempting to revive all the animals.
“The guys work their hearts out for them (pets) just like they do humans,” said Roomsberg.
The large number of structure fires and late night and early morning calls responding to tornado related incidents has been taxing on the local fire department. However Roomsberg said actual incidents provides valuable training opportunities.
“They always say you fight like you train and train like you fight. When you go to a call, you learn stuff from it. Usually, no two calls are the same. You see different things and when you’re done, you’re like what could we have done better. What went good. It gives you ideas for the next time,” said Roomsberg.
Roomsberg said a mutual aid agreement with neighboring fire departments was a key to a quick response to all five structure fires.
“We rely on each other and they were all utilized,” said Roomsberg.
Besides Galesburg-Charleston Township, Climax Township, Pavilion Charter Township, Comstock, Ross-Augusta and Leroy Township responded to the barn fire on 44th Street.
Comstock, Ross-Augusta and Richland responded with Galesburg-Charleston Township on the McCollum Street fire and Climax Township moved up to man the Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Station.
Comstock and Ross-Augusta fire departments provided mutual aid to Galesburg-Charleston Township at the Burgess Drive fire and Comstock and Ross-Augusta responded with the Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Department to the structure fire on Michigan Avenue.
“We utilize our neighbors and we all work good together. We all support each other. They’re a big part of the success story,” said Roomsberg.
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