Volunteer firefighters work to serve their neighbors in times of need - Bourbon County
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Rayma Silvers

Editor's Note: The following article is the first of a two part series detailing the requirements of volunteer firefighters as well as what volunteer firefighters give up in order to serve their neighbors.
Residents in Bourbon County who experience a house or grass fire will come in contact with a unique group of local individuals. The volunteer firefighters in Bourbon County make up a large group of local residents, who have committed themselves to help others in their time of need. Although firefighters are well known for fighting the flames that erupt when a fire breaks out, many people may not realize the job these men and women undertake has a much wider description than just extinguishing a threatening blaze.

According to Scott Township Fire Department Chief Jackie Messer and Assistant Chief Eric McKay, the local firefighter volunteers respond to a variety of calls including search and rescue, Hazmat spills, floods, vehicle crashes, medical assists, suicide attempts, storm spotting, structures fires, grass fires, day care inspections, animal rescues and any situation that arises. On average, Scott Township handles 225 calls per year. This year, the volunteer department has already responded to well-over 100 calls, Messer said.

"We handle a wide variety of calls," Messer said. "That makes it an interesting job."

The need for volunteers to give of their time serving on one of the county's volunteer fire departments is great. Without the volunteer departments, rural residents could see an increase in homeowner's insurance McKay said.

According to Bourbon County Fire Department District 3 firefighter volunteers Justin and Katie Hueston, the volunteers who make up the rural fire departments help save lives that might otherwise be lost if help were not located in the county.

"We're a needed entity," Justin said. "If we had to depend on one department to cover Bourbon County, it wouldn't work."

Katie added, "It would put a lot of people in danger. People in rural places could be waiting on an ambulance for 30 minutes. They (city emergency workers) respond as quickly as they can, but some of these things in the county could take them at least 30 minutes to get to them. That is 30 minutes we can be giving them care and giving them the things they need."

Although the county firefighters are all volunteers, they still have to undergo a minimum of 40 hours of training per year, and quite often the volunteer firefighters end up with a lot more than the minimum amount of training, according to Messer and McKay, who are getting ready to start a Firefighter I course at Scott Township on July 25. In addition to the Firefighter I class, Scott Township also routinely conducts Firefighter II and Engine Operator Driver classes for incoming volunteers. Messer said the department offers other firefighter-related training at least twice a month and a variety of topics are taught such as Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, search and rescue, ladders, ropes and Automated External Defibrillator. In addition, all of the volunteers are certified in responder first aid.

"We have to train," Messer said. "So we can handle the situation no matter what gets thrown at us."

According to Justin, District 3 has 16 volunteers who are medically trained as first responders or higher, and every firefighter has first aid and CPR.

"We are required to get a minimum of 40 (hours of training), but I would say we probably get twice that," Justin said.

For more information about the eight to ten week Firefighter I course that will be offered by Scott Township on July 25 or to enroll in the course, contact McKay at (620) 224-7810.