Blind volunteer saves the day by helping extinguish blaze at Grange fairgrounds

Jun. 21—FINDLEY TOWNSHIP — A blind Pine Township man is being credited for helping to extinguish a fire at the Mercer County Grange Fairgrounds and possibly saving the fair, which is set to open next week.

On June 4, Jim Richardson was cleaning inside a kitchen prep building at the fair's Findley Township grounds. Richardson, chairman of the fair board, and other family members regularly volunteer for the annual fair. The 57-year-old became blind 25 years ago due to diabetes complications.

"All of a sudden I could hear a crackling sound that a fire makes," Richardson said. "Then I felt the heat."

It turned out a propane gas line ruptured inside the building that ignited the fire, he said. None of the kitchen equipment that uses gas was turned on.

Grabbing his walkie talkie radio, Richardson hollered to his wife, Rachel, who was working at the fair's main building over 100 yards away.

"I had to yell a couple times for her to hear me," he said.

After hearing his cries for help his wife raced to the other building.

"You could see the smoke pouring out," she said. And she also made a quick call to 911.

Rachel grabbed a fire extinguisher and handed her husband a garden hose. The two battled the blaze with severe concerns.

"There were propane tanks still in the building," she said.

When fire fighters arrived minutes later, the two already had the fire nearly extinguished. The damage was minimal.

"I'm just glad I was there when it happened," Jim said.

His mother, Ginny Richardson, is the former Mercer County treasurer and has served on the fair board for decades. She credits her son's phenomenal hearing for being able to detect the fire.

"He can hear the slightest whisper," she said.

The Richardsons and other volunteers have been working to ready the fair.

Major events such as animal judging, entertainment and rides start Tuesday but lunch and dinner can be purchased starting Monday and throughout the event which runs through Saturday.

Entrance into the fair is free and so is the musical entertainment. But main attractions such as the demolition derby and tractor pulls have a fee.

MORE INFO: www.mercercountygrangefair.net