It almost seems too recent since we pointed out the bravery of first responders and firefighters in particular. Events such as the one that happened this weekend in downtown Butler raise the opportunity to hammer that point home one more time, rather than wait for a community activist to gripe about the cost of fire and police departments or suggest that budgets for them be cut.

The community temperature has really had a positive feel to it lately, minus some whining from losing candidates in elections that want to fault everyone except the person they see in the mirror for why they got rejected for public office.

The current members of city government have kept the citizens mostly calm over the functions of government with the one big exception of the invisible manner in which the mayor likes to perform his role.

If you were downtown on Saturday, you no longer wonder if the city needs a ladder truck. You also won’t question how ready and willing the countywide associations of volunteer firefighters are to help their brothers and sisters when an alarm sounds outside the designated boundaries of the department they serve.

At least for one weekend, all of Butler was more concerned with the safety and health of the residents, building owners and businesses on the 200 block of South Main Street. It seemed like everyone was from Butler that morning.

Not a peep was heard from previous city officials criticizing the efforts of the skilled fire crews doing their jobs very much in public view. The police and first responders were able to do their jobs efficiently with very little disturbance, other than one guy who thought he was a professional videographer and reporter who had to be moved out of the way when common sense didn’t sink in that this wasn’t the time or place for amateurs to be hot-dogging.

There are not enough ways to say thank you and to praise these men and women. A phrase you will often hear spoken about them is “they are the ones who run toward danger when the rest of us are running away in fear.”

Not only did they handle the tragic event professionally and efficiently, but the crowd control of naturally curious citizens was done so well, it was amazing. Cheers, toasts and applause to all those who answered the call on Saturday and every day when duty summons. You make us so proud.

And, please, wear your mask.

— RV