By Rupert Howell
Firefighters who battled the blaze at Batesville Elementary School on July 10 will be honored tonight at South Panola High School’s first home football game which starts at 7.

The Panolian reported that 80 firefighters from 11 fire departments responded and worked through the night to extinguish the blaze that destroyed the school’s kindergarten wing last month.

Batesville Fire Chief Tim Taylor estimated the departments provided either manpower, equipment or both during that long night, and managed to save the historic two-story red brick building that has been a local landmark in Batesville for decades as well as other nearby buildings.

In addition to those fighting the blaze, other firemen from outlying departments had to “man the stations” from which the manpower was borrowed to insure that fire protection remained in their respective areas Taylor explained.

The Batesville Fire Chief said also that other first responders from municipal and utility departments were crucial to containing the fire.

Reported on the scene that night were personnel from Batesville, Mt. Olivet, Sardis Lower Lake, Coles Point, Curtis, Courtland, Bynam, Como, Pope, Sardis and Senatobia Fire Departments.