Volunteer Firefighters: Answering the Call

The many volunteers who protect our lives and communities all year long deserve our heartfelt thanks this weekend. That's the way it is with these volunteers, of whom our Peter Greenberg is one. Here he is with their story:


It happens every 23 seconds . . . somewhere in this country firefighters are responding to a call.

And what you probably don't know is that three-quarters of them are volunteers, taking their lives in their hands - and sometimes paying the ultimate price . . .

Every October, thousands converge on northern Maryland town of Emmitsburg, at the National Fire Academy, to pay tribute to these men and women who've lost their lives in the line of duty.

This year 105 firefighters were recognized, and 43 were volunteers.

Volunteers like Steven Koeser. His friends and family called him "Peanut"…

"One way to describe him, he had a heart of gold," said Kelly Walesh. She met Koeser seven years ago. Not long afterward, they became a couple . . .

"He was a jack of all trades," she said, who loved his daughter.

So, a few weeks ago, Walesh traveled from the village of St. Anna in central Wisconsin to remember, AND honor, the father of their daughter, Lexus.

It happened last December. Koeser, a 15-year veteran volunteer, responded to a call . . . a dumpster fire at a metal foundry.

The dumpster exploded, injuring eight and killing Steven Koeser.

Kelly "freaked out." The first thing in her mind, she said, was their daughter.

At first, four-year-old Lexus didn't quite understand.

"She'd say once in a while, 'When's Daddy coming home?' And I said, 'He's not,'" Kelly recalled. "And after a couple months she started asking questions about what happened, and [I] answered them honestly and I think she understands now."

"I do," Lexus said.

Towns across the country rely on volunteers like Steven Koeser to respond when the call comes in. In Wisconsin alone, of the state's 870 fire departments, some 800 are volunteer.

In the town of La Farge (population 775), just about anyone can join.

Chief Philip Stittleburg is an attorney and retired criminal prosecutor. Dave Sarnowski is a retired schoolteacher. Reggie Nelson works for Verizon Telephone.

The department's budget is just $35,000 a year.

Nationwide, it's estimated that volunteers save communities $37 billion a year in labor costs.

"In addition to providing coverage for the village, we provide coverage to all parts of seven surrounding townships, too," said Stittleburg. "So we've got a coverage area of 135 square miles."

"They're the backbone of our rescue system across the United States," said Jamie Smith, director of the Museum of Firefighting in Hudson, N.Y. "I mean, what would we do without them?"

Smith says the very first volunteer fire brigades in America were organized by Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of the Dutch settlement of New Netherland.

"He did a lot for fire prevention safety," she said. "He appointed fire wardens to go around and examine chimneys - and, if they were not clean, to fine those people."

The museum's collection chronicles the legacy of volunteer firefighting in America . . .

"It's part of our culture," said Smith. "They've just always been there, and then they're taken for granted and no one thinks twice about it."

But NOT in towns like La Farge. Here, volunteers aren't just part of the fabric of the community . . . they are the community.

So when they respond to a call, there's a 100-percent chance that the person in need will be either a neighbor, a friend, or someone even closer.

As tough as it can be sometimes, helping your neighbor in their hour of need is what volunteer fire fighting is all about.

Payday, says Chief Stittleburg, is "Thank you."

"When the person comes up, and shakes your hand and says, 'Thank you for saving my house.' 'Thank you for cutting my child out of that crashed vehicle.' 'Thank you for saving everything in the world that's important to me.' That's payday."


For more info:
National Volunteer Fire Council
FASNY Museum of Firefighting
Ocean Bay Park Fire Department
La Farge (Wis.) Fire Department on Facebook
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
At. Anna Fire Department
statter911.com

[TXGAL2010]

I volunteer for a non-profit organization called The WPI Firefighters' Fund (WPIFF for short). The mission of the WPIFF is to provide financial assistance to volunteer firefighters injured in the line of duty and to the families of fallen or injured firefighters, primarily volunteers. We know that many volunteer firefighters are not offered health insurance, leaving them in a financial bind if they are injured on duty. If you know of a firefighter who could use our help please visit our website and feel free to contact us to see if we can help. www.wpiff.org. Thank you to all!

[kanablecb]

I applaude CBS for bringing this story to the people. I have been a Vol. Firefighter for 18 yrs. My father was for 27 yrs before me . It is more challenging every year due to state requirements and time consumption. We get about enough pay to keep gas in the truck, but we do it to help others, not the pay. It's important for everyone to know that when you are a Volunteer Firefighter-your whole family is a member. It affects everyone. My wife is wonderful and supports me all the way. I lost count long ago how many meals, holiday gatherings, birthday parties, church services, ect...I left or missed out on because the fire pager went off. I remember how many times it took us days to figure out a time for us all to go grocery shopping together at Wal-Mart, only to get up the first isle, hear my pager beep, and all of us go scampering out the doors to the van. Your whole family is involved because of the emotions also. You come home and tell your wife or husband things you saw or did that no one should have to see or do, and you never forget those sites and calls. You can see in your mind the very first JAWS call you went on, the first fatal fire, the first time the ceiling fell in around you constituting your first "close call", the first car fire where the tire blew up next to you and you wondered if it was a tire or the gas tank and things were going bad, or the fire you took every truck and almost every member to and stayed for hours-only to find there was nothing that could be done. It all stays with you forever, and your family feels it with you. THANK YOU to the spouses and children of Vol. Firefighters who put life on hold when the siren sounds. THANK YOU to the employers who allow us to leave work (many times without pay) to go help our neighbors in trouble. This is vital. Let's not forget the many volunteer EMT's who do the same thing. I am happy to be a Volunteer, and thank God for using us as tools for His service!

[pooky1971]

I have also been in this for years and been through quite a few years of schooling in addition to minimal requirements. I am certified at WI State Level II, etc., and additionally am persuing driver/operator training & have emergency medical responder certifications. I think the problem is that people don't understand the minimum state requirements we need to meet as departments & the funds required to keep us at those MINIMUM certification levels. I understand paid depts. animosity sometimes, but they do this EVERY day & are paid for it. We have to dedicate our time for schooling, training, etc., all from the good grace of our hearts. We don't do this for money....we do this because someone HAS to & cause we can!

[Richard_E_C]

I have a volunteer for 26 years for what I feel is the best volunteer department in our county, which has a total 26 of such companies. I have seen everthing from brush fires, structure fires, vehicle mishaps, and many mutual aid calls from neighboring towns, which are also volunteer. We respond to assisting local police agencies, flooding conditions, and numerous fault alarms though out the year, not to mention the brotherhood/sisterhood developed. We respond all times of the day & night plus doing community service thoughout the year. We do everthing paid department do, execpt being paid. County taxes are lower due to the fact of being volunteers. My hat goes off to all volunteer departments around the country.

[TCop]

As a paid firefighter for 15 years, I found it repulsive and elitist whenever members from my department, or members of other paid departments, would suggest that volunteers were merely amateurs. These selfless individuals had to go through the same training and maintain the same certifications as a paid member, while holding down a full-time job in another career field. As far as I'm concerned, the fire service is a profession. The monetary compensation is irrelevant.

[JasonWickizer]

I have been a Volunteer Firefighter/EMT for many years. When the pager goes off you leave and respond to assist those in need. After September 11th - the nation stopped and looked at Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement in a new light. Let this story remind us as a Nation, Volnteers, Firefighters, Families and Friends that some lay their lives down in Sacrafice for our fredoms from opression, cruelty, and terror. Others lay down their lives to protect the citizens of this great nation from domestic threats including Fire/EMS/Rescue/Terror....God Bless all those in this Nation, and a special thanks to all my brother and sister firefighters, their family and friends for sharing the time to protect each other. Well Done CBS - I along with some others shed a tear for the little girl, that lost her Father "Peanut" I will say a special prayer for her and the family. I could not be prouder to be part of such an honorable profession.

[Chief600]

Thank you CBS for highlighting the dedicated service of America's Volunteer Firefighters.
As Chief of a combination department in Upstate South Carolina, I see and experience first hand the commitment and determination by willing community responders in impacting the lives of those they are sworn to serve and protect.

[SGramling]

The article says so much in so few words. 105 people (43 volunteers) gave their life to help and/or save complete strangers. Being one of these people who is willing to do what it takes, it's still hard to understand why I do it. Payday is why Payday. If you think it's money WRONG! It's the thank you that is given. Sometimes it's not given in words. It's the look in a child's eyes, or a elderly person squeezing your hand while they gaze into your eyes. While I hope your blessed and don't ever need a Fire Fighter or EMT, but if you should, send us a note on how your doing. Even stop at the fire station on a meeting night or drill night and say Hi.

[MB_13]

I grew up in a town with a volunteer fire department. We loved our fire department. Thank you to all you who go "Where angels fear to tread" and do so with no monetary payment. Incidentally it was that same all volunteer fire department that were first responders in the crash of Continental 3407 outside of Buffalo, NY in February 2009.

[hdc77494]

Great story, now how about a companion piece about Harry Reid and the bill he is pushing that would force every volunteer fireman in the country to join a union and pay union dues, even in right to work states. A little payback to the union bosses that financed his campaign on the backs of hard working firefighters. Too bad unions don't actually represent workers anymore, they just use workers money to buy politicians so they can fleece more workers.

[SGramling]

I wish Mr Reid luck with that. It won't fly as the union would never give equal benifits. In Wisconsin many departments are private and have no government connections other than a contract for services. I would love for my family to get the same benifits as the union boys do. But that will never happen.

[TCop]

With the increased certification requirements for volunteers, recruitment has dwindled over the past decade. I find it inconceivable that a department member, who receives little to no compensation, be required to pay union dues. This idea would further diminish manpower.