Our thoughts are with Van Buren after loss of The Landing

The Van Buren community suffered another tragic loss on Wednesday.

But it was a tragedy marked only by the loss of property and belongings, not the loss of life.

While The Landing was precious to the Bedells, the family which built it, a local icon, a source of livelihood for 50-100 people each month and a tremendous tourism draw for Carter County — it can, and we hope will be, replaced.

The lives of the employees and guests staying there that night are not replaceable. Neither are the lives of the dozens of volunteer firefighters who turned out Wednesday to protect those on site and try to save what property they could.

We want to thank the members of the Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department, as well as members of the Ellsinore, Ellington, North Reynolds County, Piedmont and Winona volunteer fire departments.

VBVFD Chief Curt Majors told us the department received phone calls from other departments in those early morning hours, include Butler County, West Plains and Mountain View, offering assistance.

Volunteer fire departments often work with fewer resources and funding, but their crews are ready at a moment’s notice. And we bet there were likely many who battled the fire between 1-6 a.m. on Wednesday who went on to their “day jobs” without any rest.

If you have an opportunity, please remember to support these volunteer agencies in our communities. You never know when it might be their lights and sirens that arrive in your darkest moment.