Some who fought fertilizer inferno never went home

WEST, Texas — They are farmers, car salesmen, business owners and city employees.

But when flames broke out at the West Fertilizer Co. Wednesday night, West volunteer firefighters and others left those jobs behind and rushed toward the danger blazing on the north end of town.

Those at ground zero of the thundering explosion never came home.

Grief and worry were etched on the faces of the men, women and children who gathered Thursday at the West Fire Station, desperately seeking information on the whereabouts of their loved ones.

While officials have backed off on their estimate of at least 15 dead, reports suggest that five West firefighters and at least three other emergency responders are among the missing and presumed dead.

Navarro County firefighter Perry Calvin, who was in West taking an emergency technician class Wednesday night, responded to the fire with a friend and both died in the explosion, according to Calvin’s father, Phil Calvin, the chief in Navarro Mills.

Calvin declined to identify his son’s friend.

Another firefighter from Dallas, Capt. Kenny Harris, who lives in West, also died, authorities said.

Brent Bridges, 18, stood distraught and shivering in the cold rain outside the firehouse Thursday morning and recounted how his father Morris Bridges left home to fight the fire the night before.

“The mayor talked to my aunt, saying that he probably didn’t make it,” Bridges said. “I am just hoping that he was wrong.”

Brothers and volunteer firefighters Robert and Doug Snokhous also were missing.

From Florida, Marqee Snokhous spent the night and morning calling every hospital in the area hoping to find her father, Robert Snokhous, 47, and 50-year-old uncle.

As of Thursday afternoon, she said the family still had not received confirmation about her father’s or uncle’s fate.

“There’s not been anything official but the mayor did call my stepmom,” she said. “He told her that he’s pretty sure that they’re both inside the business in the plant, trapped in there. And that there’s a pretty high probability that there’s no survivors there.”

Snokhous, 23, said her father and uncle, both residents of West, had been volunteering with the fire department since she was a young girl.

“They love doing this,” she said. “They love to go and help somebody. They were always one of the first ones there. … It’s something they put their heart into.”

Joey Pustejovsky, the city secretary for West, volunteers as a firefighter and “was there doing his job and he put his life in harm’s way to protect the people that he needed to protect,” said David Sebesta, Pustejovsky’s brother-in-law.

He said Pustejovsky and his sister were married on March 10, 2012 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of the Assumption in West.

“He swept her off her feet,” Sebesta said. “It was probably one of the best things that ever happened to her because they were so in love. I was so happy for her when she met him because he was so good to her. She needed that in her life.”

Pustejovsky brought into the marriage one son and Kelly, one son and two daughters, Sebesta said.

“The best thing about Joey was he took my sister’s kids and took them as his own,” Sebesta said. “They call him Daddy.”

Sebesta said his sister was driving near the football field when the explosion occurred.

“It basically busted the airbags in her car,” he said. “She had his son and her oldest with her. It was a pretty catastrophic event.”

Another West firefighter, Cyrus A. Reed, was also killed in the explosion, according to social media postings by friends and family.

Capt. Kenny Harris wasn’t a volunteer firefighter but rushed to help when he learned of the fire in his community, according to Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.

“Captain Harris’ response is typical of all our first responders; night and day, no matter where they are, no matter if they are on or off duty they respond with the greatest acts of bravery,” said City Manager Mary K. Suhm. “The City of Dallas and citizens of Dallas have lost a real role model.”

The Dallas Fire-Rescue chaplain and other members were in West Thursday to support the Harris family. Harris was a 52-year-old married father of three grown sons, according to the Dallas Fire Department.

“Our hearts are heavy and hurting with the loss of such a great firefighters, great husband and great family man,” said Dallas Fire Chief Louie Bright III. “Dallas Fire-Rescue is wrapping its arms around the Harris family to provide comfort and support.”

The call to the West Fire Department came in at 7:29 p.m.

Firefighters began evacuating the area, and as they battled the blaze the explosion occurred, leaving a massive crater and damaging dozens of homes and other buildings in a five-block radius.

Officials said the first call on the explosion was logged at 7:53 p.m.

McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said he knows many of the West firefighters, a close-knit group that was well trained for dealing with a major incident such as a fire at the fertilizer facility.

“It’s a volunteer fire department. But they were doing what they were trained to do — putting their lives on the line. It’s just a sad situation,” McNamara said. “They got the same training as any other fire department.”

Harry Nors, the mayor of the neighboring community of Abbott and a volunteer firefighter in that town, said Abbott firefighters raced to help West firefighters in the aftermath of the explosion.

“When you know them personally, it’s hard to see friends of yours hurt,” he said. “We know them well. We know them very well.”

Firefighters who survived the blast are recovering from injuries.

Misty KaskaÖ, who lost her home to the explosion, said her uncle George NorrisÖ, the West volunteer fire chief, was among the firefighters hospitalized.

“Last we heard, he had a head injury and some broken bones,” she said. “His wife was also injured. She was hurt at home while he got hurt out there fighting the fire. This is all so terrible. People have family members they can’t find.”

Brothers David and Kevin Maler are volunteer firefighters, said their mother Jean Maler.

Kevin wasn’t hurt but the blast knocked David to the ground. The explosion damaged his ears and burned his legs, she said.

“They found him lying in the street,” she said. “It blew his shirt off.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.