Service first: Volunteer fire departments put their county ahead of turf

It should be no surprise really that the county's brigade of volunteer fire departments decided to stand behind the plan to merge some departments and to consolidate services.

There wasn't a bunch of bickering and turf-grabbing. There might have been some details to work out, but there was no trash talking.

These men and women decided that the first priority should be serving the residents of Wayne County -- and they worked together to make that happen.

And it did.

There will still be firefighters and volunteers who will be there if and when they are needed. But some of the fire crews knew that their communities would be better-served with consolidated services and were more than willing to join forces to provide them.

And here is why that is not a surprise.

What many people don't know is that volunteer firefighters are just that ... volunteers. They have other jobs, other responsibilities. They also are not compensated, and often have to raise money to provide the equipment and training they need.

But as impressive as that is, there is another aspect to remember, too. These men and women face the same risks as those who do this full-time for a living.

A call to a fire could end in their injury or death -- and they take a chance every time they enter a burning building to save one of their neighbors.

They do not hesitate to weigh their own risk. They do what is right, what is courageous and what they consider their duty. And that is why they are worth their weight in gold.

Fighting fires is not all these volunteers do. Some are also emergency medical professionals. They respond to accident scenes and save lives.

They are the ones who are there when we need them the most, without thought of their own safety or the risks they take, whether that be alongside a highway or at a house fire.

The new volunteer fire department system will be stronger, more cost-effective and more efficient.

But what will keep it such a key part of this county are the men and women who man its stations and answer your calls.

And they deserve both our support and our thanks.

Published in Editorials on December 21, 2013 10:50 PM