A Spokane Valley Fire Department ladder truck crew is credited with caring for a popular American flag that was in distress in Spokane Valley, Wash.
This story by Taylor Viydo originally appeared on KREM News 2.
The massive flag, which is located at the Camping World RV dealership off of Interstate 90, is routinely spotted by drivers not far from the Liberty Lake exit. On Monday morning, however, Camping World staff discovered that an upper section of the flag had started to rip due to recent rain and high winds.
General Manager Mike Justus said staff immediately began planning to take down the flag, which measures 40 feet by 80 feet, and replace it with another flag Camping World had standing by. The RV dealership typically has four additional large flags on standby and will often replace their flags every two months as they become worn, according to Justus.
Not long after employees began arriving at work, Justus said the dealership’s phone lines became swamped with calls from concerned drivers who noticed the flag’s tear.
After responding to a fire call on Broadway Avenue, SVFD Captain Kresse and a ladder truck arrived at Camping World to help take down the damaged flag. A firefighter who was extended on the truck’s ladder was able to cut down the tangled flag and safely hand it off to Camping World staff on the ground.
Kresse said that SVFD has previously used the truck to respond to calls relating to flags stuck on flagpoles. Notably, Kresse said the department helped out during a similar call during a Veterans Day event at a nearby motorcycle dealership.
