The Highlands Department was credited with saving a good portion of Sea Drift Avenue in March 1943, when a fire destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Mount.
Capt. Bill Kohlenbush headed up the volunteer firemen who were called to the scene 9:30 a.m. that morning by the fire already blazing throughout the Mount home. The couple and their three children all managed to escape the building safely and were able to save some of their furniture. However, the building was completely destroyed when fire raced through the roof of the two story structure and firemen were forced to recede and fight the blaze from outside.
The volunteers’ quick action and constant attention prevented the fire from spreading to the houses on either side of the Mount home, not more than four and seven feet from the burning structure.
It is believed the cause of the fire was defective wiring. Ralph Coleman was Fire Chief at the time.
