CLEARFIELD – During the month of February, the Clearfield County Commissioners will be honoring the efforts of the many firefighters, emergency responders and other volunteers who battled a devastating downtown Clearfield fire for approximately seven hours over this past weekend.
The fire destroyed Ethan’s Café/The Angry Bean after igniting at approximately 11 p.m. Saturday on North Third Street. The fire also damaged Rick Evans Photography and the Clearfield County Administrative Offices while displacing 13 – 15 second-floor apartment tenants who lived above the restaurant and photography studio, according to previous GantDaily.com reports.
“We want to say a special thank you to the Clearfield County firefighters. It was more than just the Clearfield departments,” said Commissioner Chairperson Joan Robinson-McMillen. “We can’t say enough good things about the fire department. Our building is still standing today, because of the fire department.”
She said the fire department successfully maintained the fire to the building, which housed Ethan’s Café/The Angry Bean and second-floor apartments. She said their thoughts and prayers are with the families who were displaced, and they hoped the community joins together for the benefit dinner for the victims on March 2.
Robinson-McMillen said the commissioners were thankful to the businesses and churches of downtown Clearfield. She said the Presbyterian Church, Zalno’s Jewelers and Joseph Marino opened their doors Saturday and Sunday to provide firefighters and families with a warm place.
She thanked Emergency Management Director Joseph Bigar and Clearfield 911 for its support, as well as Clearfield Borough Fire Chief Todd Kling, who she said “took the fire very personally” and “worked tirelessly.” She said that Clearfield Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott was at the scene from the very beginning Saturday night and returned again Sunday.
According to Robinson-McMillen, all three commissioners responded to the scene. As soon as they were permitted inside the county’s offices, she said they went in to save its computers. Robinson-McMillen said, “We were grabbing computer towers, running and dodging ceiling tiles as they fell.
“It is what makes Clearfield a great place to live – a small town,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s everybody knowing your business is the worst thing when it’s bad. Other times, it is everybody knowing it’s the best thing and pulling together like a family, and we really appreciated it.”
Commissioner Mark B. McCracken said the extent of the firefighters’ training was evident this past weekend, as they “absolutely” maintained control of the fire and saved the county’s office building. When they were “slopping around” at 2:30 a.m. in the semi-dark with water and ceiling tiles coming down, Commissioner John A. Sobel said it gave them a glimpse at the life of a firefighter.
“It’s not exactly like being a firefighter, but it gave us all some sense,” said Sobel. He asked that the county honor its firefighters, emergency responders and volunteers with a proclamation before the close of the meeting. “We really need to honor all the firefighters, EMTs, police officers and volunteers who were there.”
Due to damage to the county offices, Robinson-McMillen said the commissioners are working out of the first-floor conference room in the Courthouse Annex. She said the Elections, Controller’s and Veterans Affairs offices are also all working out of the Courthouse Annex.
She said the Elections and Controller’s offices are sharing with the Sheriff’s and GIS departments, respectively. Any Veterans Affairs visitors should seek directions from security upon entering the Courthouse Annex.
Robinson-McMillen said Clearfield County Planning & Solid Waste is working out of the Clearfield 911 Center. She said Clearfield County Children, Youth and Family Services is working remotely and can be reached by phone only.
