Volunteer Firefighter Usually First Responder in Rural Communities

When living in a rural community, volunteer firefighters are usually the first responders on the scene to any emergency. The volunteer fire department is usually the life line between life and death in more than just putting out house fires. Being a volunteer firefighter is a big commitment and serious one as unlike being a full time professional firefighter, you are on call 24/7 and the pay sometimes can be dismal. Community support is crucial in the development and maintenance of an all volunteer fire department and the volunteer firefighter training.

I live in a small rural community and my husband has been a volunteer firefighter for well over twenty years. I am fully aware of the time commitment and personal sacrifices that these firemen make. I also know firsthand how important it is to have the community support in keeping the volunteer fire department operating. We do not have a medical center in our community. We do not have an emergency medical team available at all time. Our volunteer firefighters are the ones to make the call as to whether an ambulance is needed or if the county coroner needs to respond. Because of the distance to nearby hospitals it is also the responsibility of the firemen to decide of an air transport is needed to save time. Sure we have the usual house fires and garage fires, but we also have barn fires and silo fires and light industrial fires that require HazMat training.

A volunteer firefighter needs continuous training to be prepared to meet many different situations. Many of the situations that a rural volunteer fireman may encounter require a certain amount of certification in order to respond to the needs of the community. These all require training time and money. The state and federal governments help out with the bulk of expenses for operations but community donations are also extremely important, especially since the state and federal governments have made so many cuts to these types of agencies.

I have had to use our local fire department on a couple of occasions. Once when my daughter went into an epileptic seizure and once when my mother passed away in our home. It was the first responders on the scene that knew how serious my daughter's seizure was and the need to call an ambulance. It was also the first responders that arrived when my mother passed away and made the call to the coroner. These were people I knew from the community and they were extremely professional and comforting on both occasions. I cannot imagine having total strangers handling either situation.

A volunteer firefighter may not be something that everyone in a rural community can commit to. Being a volunteer fireman can mean missing time from work. Not every employer embraces community service that conflicts with work time. If you happen to be out on a call you cannot stop to go to work. You may be called out several times during the night. It does not matter that you have to get up early for work. You may get called out during special occasions, birthdays, holidays, weddings or almost any time. You may have to be called out for an emergency regarding a family member and you happen to be the first responder on the scene. Or maybe it just is not something you could see yourself doing. But you can help through monetary contributions and attending fundraisers that the volunteer fire department holds throughout the year to raise funds for operating costs. Everyone can and needs to do their part to ensure that that volunteer firefighter is there to be that first responder in your rural community. Many volunteer fire departments are closing due to budget cuts. These cuts can mean the difference between life and death.