Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

It’s getting to be that time again. Throughout the year, you’ll find annual fundraiser notices for other area volunteer fire departments in The Fayette County Record and Facebook. I was reminded of this fact when I ran across the upcoming Schulenburg VFD’s on Feb. 2 on Facebook. Round Top-Warrenton and Muldoon are held in May, Winchester and Carmine are held in July, La Grange in October, to name just a few.

These fundraisers are so important to the departments that serve our community. Funds raised are used to buy vital equipment to protect the firefighters who come to our aid, training, as well as trucks and equipment to protect and save people and property. Imagine not having the funds to purchase a Jaws of Life, a critical piece of equipment used to open a badly crushed car in order to reach the victim inside for rescue.

The volunteer fire fighters do much more for our community than fighting fires. They assist with traffic control and diversion at the site of automobile wrecks. In addition to firefighting, many of these volunteer fire departments have Medical First Responders. These are the folks trained in first aid and typically arrive on scenes in rural areas before EMS can get there.

I can attest to the invaluable service these men and women of the fire departments provide to our community. Some years ago, my mom fell outside her house, breaking her femur. Thankfully, she had her cellphone in her pocket, called 911 and then me. Because she lives on the outskirts of the county, it was going to take a while for EMS to arrive. In the meantime, Carmine Volunteer Fire Department and Medical first responders arrived to give aid. A little over a year ago, my husband had a heart attack while at home. We also live on the outskirts of the county. However, one of Round Top-Warrenton’s fire fighters and first responders lives across the county road from us and heard the call go out. He was at our house in less than five minutes rendering aid, followed quickly by the Round Top-Warrenton volunteer fire department. In both of these instances, the volunteers who arrived on scene were people we knew because they are part of our community. In any emergency, it is traumatic. But there is something comforting about local volunteers coming to our aid, regardless of the outcome. For their service, I am eternally grateful.

So, when you see an advertisement for a Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser, consider attending and/or purchasing a meal. Give as generously as you can. We always hope and pray that we won’t need their services. And if you never need their services, someone you know will.