You’ve probably seen the signs outside your local fire station: Volunteers needed.
But what does that mean? Does putting your name on the list mean that someday, you’re going to have to enter a burning building?
Not so, says Fruitdale volunteer firefighter Michele Knoy. That was the impression she got when she first saw a sign like that. But once she started asking questions, she learned that there are many ways to help without suiting up to fight a fire if that’s not something you think you can do.
Knoy is organizing an open house this week to help educate the community about what kinds of volunteer skills are needed at their local fire department and at other emergency response agencies, such as Brown County Emergency Management.
The informal event will start at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Fruitdale Volunteer Fire Department on State Road 135 in Bean Blossom. Knoy expects representatives from every volunteer fire department in the county to be present to answer questions.
All seven of Brown County’s fire departments need help, Knoy said.
Lending a hand could be as simple as making a meal for a fundraiser, or ferrying bottles of water to firefighters at a scene. It could mean a mechanic or a person with construction skills spending a couple hours a week making repairs at the fire station. It could be as much or as little of a commitment as the volunteer wants it to be, Knoy said.
Brown County EMA Director Susan Armstrong also would like to develop a team of volunteers who could do other jobs in non-fire emergencies like weather events, similar to Red Cross volunteers. They could be trained to assess damage, help with evacuations, check on neighbors and people needing special assistance, or do other jobs that volunteer firefighters might otherwise be called in to do.
That would free up the firefighters to do work that requires their particular expertise, such as rescues, Armstrong said.
For people who would like to become volunteer firefighters, Armstrong and Knoy are working to arrange free training sessions.
Volunteer firefighters must be certified to perform their jobs. Training can include hazardous materials handling and operations, firefighting, emergency medical training, or training at higher levels like fire investigations or a teaching other volunteers in those fields.
Even if you aren’t sure you want to be certified right now, it’s important for people in the community to have that knowledge, Knoy and Armstrong said. For instance, if you come up on an accident scene, it can be helpful to know what hazards to look for; or if someone you know is in medical distress, you could perform basic aid while waiting for an ambulance or first responder to arrive.
Every fire department in Brown County is an all-volunteer department, even in Nashville and in the Cordry-Sweetwater lakes communities, Armstrong said. People moving into Brown County from cities don’t always realize that; they assume there’s a paid department that will be there in a matter of a couple minutes, she said.
Brown County Emergency Preparedness Manager Corey Frost has secured a $50,000 grant that can be used toward training costs, Armstrong said.
Being able to train volunteers for free is a game-changer, Knoy said. It costs $750 to certify one emergency medical technician, she said. In the Fruitdale department’s case, two-thirds of its budget is from fundraisers and only one-third comes from its township trustee, so any money it can save on training costs is helpful.
If they didn’t have to spend as much time doing fundraisers, station maintenance or cleaning, which could be done by auxiliary volunteers instead, Knoy said she and other trained department members could offer community education classes on topics like SIDS and safe sleeping for babies, or suicide prevention.
Having basic knowledge of how to help yourself and others in an emergency empowers people, Knoy and Armstrong said.
Plus, getting involved with an organization like a volunteer fire department provides a connection to the greater community, Knoy said.
“I’m a single mother, but I don’t feel that strain. … It’s like a helpful family here,” she said.
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WHAT: Emergency volunteer information session
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22
WHERE: Fruitdale Volunteer Fire Department, 5200 State Road 135 North, Bean Blossom
WHO: Residents from anywhere in the county are welcome to come and ask questions and learn how they might be of service. All Brown County volunteer fire departments are expected to be represented.
INFO: To learn which fire department serves your area, or ask other questions about the event, contact Michele Knoy at 317-688-8330 or [email protected].
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