COLUMBIA COUNTY, Pa. — An emergency call during preparations for a decades-old fire company carnival led to a horse rescue in Columbia County.
With the carnival rides running smoothly and the pizza dough properly prepared, Wednesday evening marked the opening night for the Benton Fireman's Carnival.
"We have our fire company stands; we do french fries, chicken fingers; we have Penn State ice cream. I mean, there's a lot we've been building up over the years," said Benton Fire Company Assistant Chief and Carnival Chairman Larry Remphrey.
But before Remphrey got to cutting french fries or making potato pancakes, an emergency call went out for a different kind of event.
"We got dispatched for a technical rescue, and it turns out it was a horse that was stuck in a ditch on her side, and she couldn't get up," said Remphrey.
He and other members from the volunteer Benton Fire Company worked from late morning into the early afternoon trying to rescue the several 100-pound animal.
Eventually, getting the horse free with straps, a skid steer, and help from a neighboring farmer.
"It can be very stressful, but at the same time, it's something that we have trained for," added Remphrey.
With the horse returned safely to its owner, it was back to the carnival grounds, where residents filed in to support a department that does so much for them.
"Oh my God, it's important wherever a fire company is, we rely on volunteer fire companies in our small towns," said Margaret Conrad of Shamokin.
"Me, as chairman, enjoy seeing the people come out here and enjoy themselves," said Remphrey. "It makes me feel good with all the hard work that we do to see this."
Assistant Chief Remphrey assures us the fire company will have crews ready and waiting to answer any calls that come in during the carnival, which is set to run through Saturday.