|
Community Heroes Series
From the February 2003 issue of Alabama Living magazine
Story by Kay Marshall
We
all tend to take certain things for granted in our everyday lives.
Things like electricity, or water, or often-times our health and
safety. That's normal and there is certainly no need to beat ourselves
up about it. It's just more proof of the overall quality of life
that we, as Americans, generally have.
What we have learned from the events of the past year is that some
of the people who keep us healthy and safe are often the people
who are  the
least thanked of all.
The next time we have a public, career or volunteer, servant come
to our rescue, we might stop and ponder this age-old question...What
defines a hero?
The general definition of the word tells us that a hero is distinguished
by exceptional courage and nobility and strength. As far as heroes
go, Lamar and Marion counties are lucky. Among the communities and
towns that exist here, we have 21 dedicated and experienced Fire
Departments - mostly volunteer in nature - but nonetheless qualified
and ready to serve any of their neighbors at a moment's notice.
During the past year of world strife, most Americans have come
to realize the risks that, most particularly, the Firemen and Firewomen
who serve our nation's cities, towns and communities, are willing
to take for us.
From the ashes of the World Trade Center we have come to visualize
these firefighters in their truest form - that of hero. It is the
very same for our local firefighters as well. They are also willing
to be on call to serve and save our property, homes, businesses
and our lives.
Across
our great country a whopping 60% of all firefighters are volunteers.
A sad statistic is that the fire fighting profession loses more
lives each year than any other public service profession. So who
are these volunteers, you might ask. Well, look around you because
they are your neighbors, your local merchants, your school teachers
and your friends.
Volunteers come from all walks of life and socioeconomic levels.
The defining link is the bond and commitment these men and women
share as a member of the firefighter community.
Across the board they'll all tell you, and tell you quickly, that
they have two families - their immediate family and their firefighting
family.
Asked how tight the bonds are, Lamar county Fire Chief Larry DuBose,
of the Sulligent Fire Department, said,"Emotionally, all firefighters
are one big family close-knit family. We all share a bond for our
fellow firefighters all over. We feel for them in their sickness
and particularly so in their death. If you don't think we're close
just consider when we're in a fire and your buddy pulls you out
when you're in trouble... yeah, we're tight."
Fire Chief Keith Waldrop, of Winfield's combination paid/volunteer
department echoed those exact sentiments. "We have what is
known as the Two In-Two Out Rule and it is a rule that we live by,"
he said emphatically. "Two people come out of a fire, or no
one comes out," he explained. Continuing, Waldrop said, "
We maintain a family atmosphere between and in our departments because
the person standing next to you might one day save your life."
Such is the attitude in all of the fire departments both large and
small that make up the 20 plus departments in both Marion and Lamar.
In fact, in Marion county, the various departments have established
a bond that goes beyond words. "Fire departments in all areas
of Marion county are willing to help at all times for each other,"
said Chief Waldrop. "In fact, we have a Mutual Aid Agreement
and each town has signed it. So when a fire department puts in a
request for help, another department can come to their aid without
getting approval from city leaders. This allows us to respond to
the need as quickly as possible. In our rural areas it is often
very overwhelming for one man to do the tasks at hand. So we help
each other with whatever's called for. We don't point fingers. We
simply pat each other on the back and say -- here we are, how can
we help?" Waldrop explained.
How are Firefighters Trained?
Both
Lamar and Marion have groups of skilled firefighters, several of
whom have decades of experience. Hamilton and Winfield FDs consist
mainly of paid employees with Marion the only county with paid or
career firefighters. Lamar county reports that their ten departments
are made up of between 300-400 volunteer firemen and firewomen,
and that number jumps to between 400-500 when you add in the EMT's
and rescue workers. Most are trained locally by certified instructors,
or adjunct instructors from the Fire College, in Tuscaloosa. Both
Marion
and Lamar teams train in similar ways and methods and they all share
training facilities with other larger FDs like Hamilton and Winfield.
Firefighting certificates are earned by participating in a 160 hour
course. It is the highest certificate that a volunteer firefighter
can receive without becoming a career firefighter.
- Salvage and Overhaul - protecting property & finding
hidden fire.
- Fire Streams - water patterns used.
- Fire Extinguishers - different types.
- Hose Lays - laying hose to benefit a department with
minimal manpower.
- Tools used in the fire department such as axes and firepoles.
The course is open to citizens from all counties, not just Marion
or Lamar, and the next session - set for early spring - is taking
applications now. Apply by contacting any of the Fire Chiefs at:
Hamilton FD - 205.921.2792
Vernon FD - 205.695.6999
Q:
What's considered by most all departments as the best piece of equipment
they have?
A: Jaws of Life - More lives saved per year with this device
than any other!
Common Causes
of Fires
Fire Chief Mike Gunner, of the Sulligent
FD, in Lamar county had a list of the most common causes
of fires during the winter months. He noted that fire calls
can double or triple during the winter months - and here's
some reasons why.
Space Heaters -- the number one fire cause in winter.
People place furniture or other items over the heater or
close rooms off. Some heaters come on when the room gets
a certain temperature. The heater will burn wide open and
can start a fire.
Extension Cords -- holiday lights on the outside,
if not secured, can allow water to get in which causes it
to short-out, or a 6-plug outlet is overtaxed and it causes
a fire.
Curling Irons -- often these, or similar, items get
left on and forgotten.
Fireplaces -- kept unclean they can start a fire!
Christmas Trees -- trees dry out due to lack of water,
the lights burn and set the dried tree on fire.
Kitchen Fires -- raise your hand if you're guilty
of leaving a pot of the stove and forgetting it.. a certain
danger and a common fire hazard.
|
Help your local fire department
and you help yourself.
Unlike
Lamar county's all-volunteer fire departments, Marion county has
a mixture of both paid and volunteer firefighters. This set-up is
known as a combination department. According to Fire Chief Keith
Waldrop, of  Winfield,
"At the Winfield and Hamilton FDs we have municipal funds that
are available to maintain our career people, but the rest of the
departments in our county have no municipal funds. They get equipment
only through donations and by hosting fund raisers. Turnout coats
and pants, for example, not counting boots and helmets, are approximately
$1000 each. These volunteer departments rely on donations for everything.
We all try to pull together and help one another. We do what we
can because it's what we love, so we just keep plugging away until
we get the job done. That's not the way it should be, " Chief
Waldrop stressed, "but that's the way it is and so we keep
doing what we can."
Q: Are there any
women in our area Fire Departments?
A: Yes! Currently five women are trained firefighters with
the Vernon FD.
Courage
is an astounding and superb human trait. A unique and special quality
that is either there or not. It prompts ordinary citizens to put
their lives in peril to save the lives of others. Please take a
moment this month to say thank you or make a contribution to a fire
department. These are the heroes of our communities. They risk their
lives whenever we need them to keep us safe from harm...so pledge
to give, if only with gratitude.
Donations:
Lamar - Chief DuBose POB | Vernon, AL
Marion - Chief Loden POB 188 | Hamilton, AL 35570
Call your local city or community fire department and pledge a donation
today!
|
Home Safety Tips
Safety Around Power Lines
Keeping Baby Safe At Home
Seasoned Citizen Section
Recipes
TEC Woman
Local Hero Series
|
