Wolfe Fire
May 2, 2008
FIRE HAS DESTROYED THE ONLY MEDICAL BUILDING ON WOLFE ISLAND THIS IS ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE VOLUNTEER MEDICAL CLINIC. IT HAS BEEN FIXTURE OF THE ISLAND COMMUNITY SINCE 1972. AND FOR MANY RESIDENTS, IT SERVES AS THEIR ONLY ACCESS TO A FAMILY DOCTOR. THE BLAZE STARTED AROUND 8 O'CLOCK THURSDAY MORNING. BY THE TIME FIRE CREWS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE -- FLAMES COULD BE SEEN SHOOTING THROUGH THE ROOF. DAMAGED IS PEGGED AT 120 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE CLINIC'S DOCTOR SAYS WHILE THE LOSS IS GREAT, THIS IS A CHANCE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND REBUILD. DR. HANS WESTENBURG. " I'VE DONE IT FOR 5 YEARS...IT WAS AN INTERIM MEASURE WHEN I STARTED IT. I STILL HOPE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO BE THERE... SOMEBODY YOUNGER...SOMEBODY WHO IS MORE COMMITTEE IN A WAY IN THE FUTURE FOR A MORE PROLONGED KIND OF STAY. I FEEL ALWAYS THAT PEOPLE...YOU NOW IT'S IMPORTANT THAT DOCTORS ARE AVAILABLE . IT'S IMPORTANT THAT A DOCTOR CAN BE REACHED AND THAT SOMEBODY HAS THIS FEELING THAT THEY CAN RELY ON SOMEBODY." ORGANIZERS WILL SET UP A TEMPORARY CLINIC IN PLACE BY NEXT THURSDAY. THE DIRECTORS OF THE CLINIC SAY THEY ARE IN NEED OF CASH, OFFICE AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
