January ?19, 2000

Firefighter dies on way to fire by Judy Kallenbach

A long-time firefighter with the Half Way Rural Fire Department died in an accident on his way to Bolivar Monday to provide mutual aid for the Bolivar Alert Fire Department.

James Altic, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at Burns Bridge five miles east of Bolivar at Mo. 32 and Rt. AA by Polk County Coroner Nathan Hoffer. The accident occurred about 3:35 p.m.

Altic was driving a pumper loaded with about 600 gallons of water. According to the report from Sgt. Rick Lindsay of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Altic, traveling west, lost control of the vehicle, struck the guardrail and overturned.

Hoffer said the truck rolled end over end at least twice and ended up in the drainage area on the north side of the bridge.

"He apparently wasn't driving fast, because he never drove fast," Hoffer said. "But he was running code (lights and siren)."

He said the road appeared to be a little slick from the mist that had been falling most of the afternoon. "The water in the tank was sloshing, and he overcorrected and lost control," Hoffer theorized. He said there were a couple of eyewitnesses to the accident.

The Pleasant Hope and the Polk fire departments responded to calls for assistance in the extrication and containing the scene.

"There was lots of gasoline around," said George Watson, chief of the Pleasant Hope Fire Department.

The Polk driver came to the scene "Code 1" at Watson's request - no lights or sirens - because it had already been determined that Altic had died in the crash. Watson used the Jaws of Life to extricate his friend.

"I've known Jim for many, many years," Watson said. "I don't think I've ever met a more caring person. It didn't matter who you were, he wanted to do all he could to help you. "One of the toughest things you ever have to do is cut a brother out of a wreck," he said.

Altic and his wife, Marla Geary, own The Corner Store at Half Way. He was taken to Pitts Funeral Home. Visitation is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Fire damages house

Altic was responding to a call from Bolivar Alert to help with a house fire at the end of East Walnut Street, just outside the Bolivar city limits. The home, a double A-frame that belongs to Dennis and Donna Stewart, sustained moderate to heavy damage, said Alert Chief Brian Whalen. He said one room was a loss and the roof was heavily damaged. The rest of the house sustained water damage.

Whalen said the fire marshal told him at the scene that the cause appeared to be electrical. The Stewarts were not at home when the fire started, but three people nearby reported hearing a noise that was probably electrical lines arcing, Whalen said. The Bolivar Fire Department went to the city limits and strung hose to the scene to fill Alert and other pumper trucks.

"There are not many places we could do this," said Bolivar Assistant Fire Chief Dale Newcomb. This is a case, however, where the house is just outside the city limits and cannot be reached except by city streets.

"We didn't realize they had that much hose," Whalen said. "We could have canceled the mutual aid." But it was already too late. "It really hits home when it's a fellow firefighter," he said, "especially when he's coming to an emergency scene."

Whalen said he was well-acquainted with Altic. "He was a good man."

Please see Pages 2-A and 5-A for more about Altic and the people whose lives he touched.