Pataskala council praises West Licking firefighters after recent house fires, plans proclamation

Pataskala City council members praised the West Licking Fire Department on Monday after firefighters responded to multiple recent house fires that council members said left three victims and one person who did not survive.

"They pulled 3 victims," a council member identified in the meeting as Tommy said, adding that crews "put everything on the line to go ahead and get that gentleman out." Tommy also said one firefighter was injured in the response and that the call escalated to a second alarm because of limited water in parts of the response area.

Council leadership said the city will issue a proclamation recognizing the department's efforts and noted strong community support for the families affected. "We will do a proclamation, and, it's amazing how much, the community has reached out," a presiding official said during the meeting.

Members described operational challenges during the incidents: limited hydrant or water access in the affected area required additional water to be brought in and the street department salted roads to reduce icing during the response. The council praised the department's performance despite those constraints and said it would arrange a formal recognition in the near future.

The meeting also included brief member remarks recognizing a high-school athletic director and routine procedural business before adjournment. The council moved out of executive session earlier in the evening and later voted to adjourn.