Why our volunteer fire departments deserve our respect, support
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Bridging the Divide
Chuck Bradley
In the heart of rural America, where emergency services can be miles away and resources stretched thin, volunteer firefighters stand as custodians of safety for their communities.
These everyday heroes – teachers, farmers, mechanics, and office workers by day – transform into first responders at a moment’s notice, at all hours, often putting their lives on the line for neighbors they may or may not know personally. Their story is one of extraordinary commitment in ordinary circumstances, and it deserves to be told.
Rural firefighting presents obstacles that urban departments rarely encounter. While city firefighters benefit from extensive funding, modern equipment and dedicated career personnel, their rural counterparts operate in a different reality.
With smaller tax bases and limited budgets, rural departments often rely on aging equipment, hand-me-down gear and vehicles that would be considered obsolete in metropolitan areas.
Many rural fire departments are responsible for territories spanning hundreds of square miles, resulting in response times that can stretch to 20-30 minutes – precious time during emergencies when seconds count.
The absence of hydrant systems means firefighters must develop creative solutions, including shuttling water via tanker trucks, utilizing natural water sources, or coordinating complex water relay operations.
Unlike career departments with guaranteed staffing levels, volunteer departments never know exactly who will be available for any given call. Work commitments, family obligations, or simple geography can mean that some calls are answered by just a handful of responders.
Despite these challenges, volunteer firefighters show up. According to the National Fire Protection Association, volunteers constitute approximately 67% of all firefighters in the United States, with rural communities depending almost exclusively on these dedicated individuals.
The volunteer model delivers remarkable economic value to rural communities. A fully-staffed career department can cost millions of dollars annually – an impossible burden for any rural tax base. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that volunteer firefighters save American communities in excess of $46.9 billion annually in personnel costs alone.
The commitment to serve comes with significant personal sacrifices that are rarely visible to the communities being protected.
Many volunteers purchase their own supplemental gear, spend money on gas driving to trainings and calls and lose income when emergency responses pull them away from work.
Missed family dinners, interrupted holiday celebrations and middle-of-the-night absences create a ripple effect that impacts spouses and children.
The physical demands of firefighting – carrying heavy equipment, working in extreme temperatures and enduring sleep disruption – create cumulative health effects.
Responding to traumatic incidents involving neighbors, friends, or even family members leave psychological imprints that can last a lifetime. Rural firefighters often lack access to the mental health resources available to their urban counterparts.
Beyond responding to emergencies, volunteers dedicate countless hours to training, equipment maintenance, fundraising, and administrative tasks – often totaling 10-20 hours weekly.
The volunteer fire service represents more than emergency response – it embodies the spirit of rural self-reliance and community interdependence. In an era of increasing social disconnection, volunteer departments demonstrate the enduring power of neighbor helping neighbor.
The next time you see local volunteers washing trucks outside the fire station, collecting donations at a fundraiser, or training on a weekend afternoon, remember that these individuals represent the best of rural America and the VERY BEST of Coosa County!
The strongest departments become community institutions, hosting pancake breakfasts, participating in parades, conducting school programs, and creating visible connections with the residents they serve.
Their commitment deserves not just our thanks, but our active support in ensuring they have the resources needed to answer the call – whenever and wherever it comes. I have said numerous times, “They are the last person I want to call, and the first person I want to see.”
I can truly say for the men and women who staff each of the volunteer fire departments in Coosa County, serving others is their true passion. I know that each member is excited about their department’s future and growing opportunities to exceed our community’s expectations.
Every department is continually working to ensure that the training, equipment and facilities meet the needs of the citizens and neighbors they serve.
YOU, community members, can contribute through direct volunteering, supporting auxiliary organizations, or simply expressing gratitude to those who serve.
Have you considered how you might support your local volunteer fire department?
On behalf of the Coosa County Republican Party and the citizens of Coosa County, I want to say a big THANK YOU to each of the volunteer fire departments in Coosa County and to the men and women who serve as our watchful eye 24/7/365.
Please send your questions or comments to bradleychuck92@gmail.com.
