By Bill Morini

Contributing Writer

Confession: Before my wife got involved with our volunteer fire department, I have to admit I didn’t put much thought into who those people are. I think I can say with confidence that is probably true for most people. Typically, the volunteer department flies below the radar and you don’t give it much consideration until you need them. By the grace of God, I’ve never been in a situation where I needed the fire department, but others have. You have a kitchen fire, a backyard fire, your toddler locks you out of your car… You call 911, the fire department is dispatched and within minutes, they are on the scene and doing whatever it takes to set the situation right.

I was with my wife one night, and we’d been out late. She wanted to stop by the department and add a tool she had purchased to her gear. It was around 1 a.m. and we were the only two at the station when the call went out. I stepped back and watched her put on her gear — bunker pants and boots, her coat, her hood, gloves, helmet, more than 60 pounds of protective clothing and then all the tools and equipment stuffed into pockets — in one minute, she was headed for the engine. I went out and moved my van to make way for others responding from their homes, at 1 a.m. Several cars raced into the parking lot, parked in disarray, and people scrambled into the station as the overhead door opened. Lights flashing, already there were people on the engine. It rolled out of the bay and stopped only for a second as one more man climbed the step side and disappeared into the cab. Siren blaring, they rolled. It had only been five minutes since the call went out. These people, from the quiet of their homes to the station, geared up and rolling into the night and into whatever situation they would face, in five minutes. Someone was in distress and within five minutes, these neighbors were en route to do whatever they could.

Who are these people? I think too many people think of fire departments based on what they’ve seen on TV shows like “Emergency,” “Rescue Me,” “Chicago Fire” or movies like “Back Draft.” We imagine firefighters sitting around a firehouse washing trucks, watching TV, playing some basketball in the firehouse, playing cards, etc., waiting for the call and then springing into action. In reality, paid firefighters working in shifts at the firehouse is the minority. In the US, nearly 70 percent — 70 percent! — of all firefighters are volunteer firefighters. They are your neighbors.

I’ll never take anything away from anyone who has the responsibility of being a firefighter. They are all heroes in my book. But, to me, volunteer firefighters are a special breed of people. These are people who, for no pay, no pension to speak of and not even the promise of a thank you or any recognition, willingly leave the safety of their homes and put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of strangers. They are from all walks of life, all ages, men and women. They are clerks, forklift operators, truck drivers, county workers, teachers, business owners, security guards, students, stay-at-home moms. They are whoever your neighbors are. When they get the alarm, they are watching TV with their families, gardening, fixing the lawn mower, cooking dinner, sleeping, cleaning the basement. Whatever they are doing, they stop and run out the door and respond to the call, whether it be a fire, an automobile accident, an injured person, a child locked in a car, carbon monoxide leak, an elderly person who’s fallen and gotten injured. They are prepared to face everything, whether it’s an inferno, a car wreck or a hysterical mother whose child is injured. Again, no compensation. They are volunteers. They act out of a sense of duty to give back to their communities and help those in need.

It’s not only the emergency calls volunteer firefighters sacrifice their time to. They give hours of their time every month to training to be prepared for whatever circumstance they may find themselves. They train in mazes that simulate smoke filled houses. They climb ladders and drag fire hose. They face controlled fires to train for uncontrolled fires. They use cutters (Jaws of Life) and spreaders and learn the quickest way to peel a car open to save a victim. They watch training videos. They learn structures of homes and fire behavior. They learn CPR. They train on the various fire apparatus and water rescue. It is truly amazing what these people are willing to do as volunteers to not only be prepared for any emergency and save others, but also to operate safely to protect themselves and their firefighter brothers.

There is also the opportunity for less intense community service, like showing up to monitor school bonfires, to do fire safety classes in schools, meeting people at open houses, participating in parades, etc. There are boot drives and pancake breakfasts. The fire department even brings Santa Claus to town.

In a volunteer fire department, there is something for everyone to do. There are many levels of volunteers from the men and women who are trained to be interior firefighters to exterior operations personal. There are also people who contribute around the firehouse helping to set up fundraisers or wash equipment. There is the volunteer auxiliary who look after the welfare and morale of firefighters after a serious call. There are fire police who respond directly to the scene to clear traffic and make a way for the responding engines and rescue trucks. It is an amazing organization to be part of. The people are just like you. They are flawed and are an eclectic mix of personalities who despite their differences all come together as an efficient unit to face down and make right whatever the call may be.

There’s an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, in Baldwinsville, at Station 1, 7911 Crego St. (across from Tops Market). Bring the kids for a fun memory, check out all the apparatus, see all the equipment and gear, learn about the volunteer fire service and who knows, it may spark a fire in you. You will enjoy yourself and show your support for the volunteers. We’d all love to see you there as part of a great turnout.