Dear editor:

Social media has become a staple means of communication in the world today. These “keyboard warriors” can and do influence the interest of others with their opinions whether they be factual, fictional or just insinuations. Such is the case in our small community recently.

I am speaking regarding the car fire that occurred at the Park County Fair demolition derby. Nearly 2,000 people attended this event and with that are 2,000 differening opinions on how the response was to the fire. The Powell Volunteer Fire Department did everything they could to put out the fire with the resources they had at the time. Their bravery quite possibly saved Mr. Kelso’s life.

Mr. Kelso was life flighted to the Idaho Regional Medical Center-Burn Unit where he resided in ICU for 17 days. He is currently home and continuing to heal from his burns.

He still has two major open wounds that need attention daily and is on medication for blood clotting, infection and other items.

The reason I am writing this letter is to address the recent firestorm of comments that have been circulating regarding the fallout of this incident. Let me start with a couple of facts that seem to be misrepresented or not known.

Fact 1 — The Kelso family has NEVER entertained the idea of filing a lawsuit nor have they ever mentioned any such notion in public. Again, the keyboard warriors start rumors and run with them while poisoning the minds of others.

Fact 2 — The Powell Derby Association has never publicly made any discriminating comments regarding the efficiency of the Powell Fire Department. The keyboard warriors strike again without validity.

Fact 3 — Myself, the Figure 8 promoter Dustin Short and a representative of R&A Safety met with officers of the fire department to discuss the chain of events at the derby fire. The intent of this meeting was to reflect back on the fire, discuss what went right, what we may have done wrong and determine what we can do in the future to possibly have a better outcome if this were to happen again. There were discussions with differing opinions but never were there any discriminatory comments made toward the fire department or its people. We were told the fire department would be having a board meeting on Aug. 12 and they would let us know their determination if they were going to attend any of our events in the future. I have yet to receive any confirmation one way or the other. 

The slanderous and defamation comments on social media and in person against the Kelso family, the Powell Derby Association as well as Dustin Short are hurtful, deceitful and unwarranted, all because people do not know the facts.

Hopefully we as a community can put this event behind us as if it were a bad dream and continue on with our harmonious lives. I sincerely hope so.

Respectfully yours.

Don Adams

President, Powell Derby Association