Evansville business remains open to assist the powerless.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – As more Tri-State schools and businesses announce closures going into Wednesday, some area businesses have had to keep their doors open to serve those in need.

The Community’s Need for Heat

We spoke to the manager of one of those shops whose employees have braved the icy roads to make sure those without power have a way to stay warm.

“We’re really just here for the people, and the community is the main reason we’d come out here in this weather, because we know that people need heat,” says Tom Wilder, Warehouse Manager of Bassemier’s Fireplace, Patio & Spas.

Providing Essential Services

Wilder has worked at Bassemier’s Fireplace Patio & Spas for more than 20 years. He says it’s weeks like these that people really count on them.

“We had a line here for propane most of the day,” he tells us. “I know we filled over 200 cylinders over the day here on Saturday.”

When most people were safe inside their homes Sunday, Wilder drove through the freezing rain to come to the store to ready their fuel pumps for the next day.

“The way home was tricky,” he says. “I ended up taking the old truck through a few trees, but we made it.”

As businesses and schools announced closures, the doors at Bassemier’s stayed open to dispense more than 400 tanks of propane.

Dedication to Helping Others

“I know a lot of people are using that for portable heaters and cooking. I couldn’t imagine someone coming here and us just not being here to help them,” says Wilder.

While he’s been at the store selling fuel and helping people get their fireplaces working over the phone, Wilder’s wife and two kids have been without power or water themselves. He even missed celebrating his mother’s birthday.

That’s because he says he knows other families would be in the cold without his help.

Community Support and Record Sales

“Everybody here wants the Tri-State to know that we’re here for anything that we can do for you and hopefully this weather will be out of here in a week or so, and everything will be back to normal,” he adds.

Those at Bassemier’s say thankfully, many people planned ahead for the winter weather this week.

The owner tells us that the 400 tanks-worth of propane they sold this weekend is a record for the store – even beating the 2009 winter freeze.

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