Volunteer Firefighting: A Call to Action

By Darren Byler, Volunteer Firefighter

It has been a long trip. You've been to the zoo with your precious family and seen all the sights.

After getting home, you park the car in the garage, shut the door, and head inside to get a shower and relax. So, after everything is settled down, everyone heads off to bed. In no time, you are fast asleep.

Suddenly, “BEEP BEEP BEEP.” You sit up and rub your eyes. It's only 2:15 am, it can't be time to wake up yet. Wait, what is that smell? It's smoke! You jump up, throw on a pair of pants and head to wake the rest of the family up. Going upstairs to wake the kids, the smoke becomes too thick to breathe. You can't go any further. Coughing overtakes you. You have to retreat to fresh air. How are you going to get to them?

At this point you grab your phone and dial 911. The 911 Dispatcher answers, “Where is your emergency? What happened?”

After giving all your information and trying to keep you calm, she tells you that help is on the way.

You anxiously wait, pacing the yard and hollering for the kids. Everyone is out but the two kids upstairs. How will they make it? Thoughts are racing through your head.

“I hope the Fire Department gets here quickly,” you think to yourself. “Maybe they can get the kids. Seems like it's taking forever!”

Meanwhile, in another house out in the country, a couple miles from town, a young father of a beautiful family is fast asleep, resting up for another busy day at work tomorrow. He's had a rough day at work, and also had evening plans. In his deep sleep, he hears something.

“BONG BONG BONG.” It's his pager!

“What is this call at 2:20am?” he wonders.

Because he is a dedicated volunteer, he sacrifices his much needed rest, gets up quickly, and listens to the page.

“Attention Volunteer Fire Department, respond to 123 Main St for a residential fire with people trapped.” says the dispatcher.

His adrenaline is rushing in his veins. He has spent many hours of his precious time (not getting paid for it) in training for situations like this. He attends monthly training to better himself in the many duties of being a volunteer fireman, so when someone has a need, he can be ready to go.

He runs to his car and goes to the firehouse. He's the only one there. He runs in, starts a couple of firetrucks and gets his heavy fire gear on. Soon another brave and selfless soul shows up. Soon they're dressed and headed to the fire. Upon arrival, they see the scene of the flames from the garage where the overheated car was parked the night before. The house was catching fire.

The parents are running around, yelling for help for their children.

“Save our kids!” they shout.

Soon more Fire Departments are called to assist because there are not enough firefighters for the job. More schedules messed up, and less much needed sleep being had.

These brave firefighters are normal people with extraordinary courage, running towards dangers that most people run from. They have feelings and emotions like everyone else. They have families and schedules like everyone else. They have no more time than anyone else, but they serve their community anyways! They had to spend many hours in training to learn how to save lives and fight fires, time they really didn't have to start with. They don't get any tax breaks because they serve, they use their own gas to go to the firehouse or house call. It doesn't make money to serve the community, it costs.

So why do they do it, you may ask? Good question.

What feeling is better than being able to help someone? What feeling is better than having the training to help someone on their worst day? What feeling is better than running into a burning building with the proper PPE and retrieving their son or daughter? What feeling is better than being able to extinguish a fire with little damage and being able to preserve the family memories, pictures, furniture, etc? What feeling is better than being able to hold the hand of a worried mother while medical personnel are working with her injured daughter? What feeling is better than giving someone oxygen when they feel like they can't breathe? What feeling is better than hearing after the call that when you showed up, they knew they would be okay. What feeling is better than being able to put your arm around Grandma after Grandpa had a stroke and got airlifted?

Do you want to experience this type of satisfaction? The Fire Service in general is experiencing a tremendous lack of people interested in helping with covering these calls.

Volunteer Fire Departments all around you need help. Reach out to see how you can serve your community, and be able to give back to those who have helped you!

Please consider this call for help in your area and reach out to your local volunteer fire department. There is a brotherhood in the Fire Service. We are here to support you!