Dedicated to our volunteer firefighters

To the editor:
    On a frosty winters’ night, volunteer fire department members rush from the comfort of their couches and warmth of their homes to put out a local fire.
    They have already put in a full day’s work, perhaps at the nearby school, driving a trailer truck or working at the local mill. Whatever it may be, this will be their second job for the day, or should I say night. Sometimes when I hear people throwing around remarks about our fire department I have to contain myself from commenting “where’s your ambition” and “where’s your dedication to the town you call home?” Without a local fire department, insurance rates increase and the chances of your home sustaining a fire would be next to nothing.
    There are no health benefits unless putting your life at risk by inhaling smoke, which may contain harmful toxins, falling down on slick roads from freshly fallen snow or chancing a bad back from handling extremely heavy hoses and perhaps risking a loss of your next day’s work, which pays better than that of your volunteer job.
    So to those townfolk who might be quick to degrade these people for not being smart enough or fast enough, instead of throwing out insulting comments, why don’t you get off your hind  end and go to a meeting every other week, to be put through training wherever it’s available and go clean the firehouse once a month. Also after every outgoing call, be sure to put away equipment and refill supplies.
    My appreciation only grew tonight watching them rush to get trucks on the scene, refill the tankers with water and deal with extra people that are drawn to the blaze. Then they stay late to watch for restarts and fill out mounds of town and government paperwork.
    I want to thank my firefighters and all my volunteers that make things possible.
    So next time you see a structure, grass, house or wild fire, please think about your local fire department. They are in desperate need of dedicated volunteers — do you have time?
Valorie Nason
Patten