Caleb Nickerson
LADYSMITH Aug. 12, 2017
The Thorne Community Recreation Hall in Ladysmith was jumping Saturday night as over 100 people came out to celebrate the local fire department.
Thorne Fire Chief Dan Ladouceur said that the Fireman’s Ball is a longstanding tradition, and also serves as a fundraiser.
“We raise money every year for different equipment but this year in particular we’re looking into getting fans and different types of ventilation,” he said, explaining that proper ventilation is key when fighting a large fire.

The Danny Sylvestre Band provided the entertainment for the evening, playing everything from CCR to Eric Church.
“This is our third year having them here,” Ladouceur said. “They’re amazing, a really good band.”
Later in the evening, seven members of the department were recognized for completing their Firefighter One training. Chris Thrun was promoted to First Lieutenant due to his leadership at a call the department answered earlier in the year.
“He took charge of the situation and even though he wasn’t a qualified officer, he acted like one,” Ladouceur said.
Two new recruits, Danny Pasch and Joey Smith, were also welcomed to the force.
“We’re up to 18 in the department now,” Ladouceur said. “When I took over as chief three years ago there were nine of us, one truck and one van. Now there’s 18 with a brand new tanker … everyone’s got S.C.B.A’s, everyone’s got radios and bunker [suits].”
“It’s a small community, with a lot of non-residents so it’s hard to get guys,” he added.
Though the exact total hadn’t been tallied in time for print, Ladouceur estimated that the night brought in around $2,000.