The Hardware Man - Our VFD
- Editor
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Howdy Folks,
This is supposed to be a hardware related column, and it mostly is. I’m sorry if we occasionally veer into business, community or life topics, but variety is the spice of life. Thankfully I never learned to play a one-stringed banjo.
This week I want to give a shout out to a public service we love to support and hope we never need. Our local fire departments are a critical part of our communities and they are worth saluting. Most stations in our reading area are 100% volunteer and do so for the protection of the community where they live and work. Yet, it is a physically and emotionally difficult job where they respond in the worst of times to render aid. Vehicle accidents, EMS assistance, fire alarms or weather all spring our local heroes into action.
Clintonville Volunteer Fire Department recently posted about a cheerful ending to an EMS call. The call for a cardiac arrest came in Saturday morning as they were preparing for their open house. The first truck responded within two minutes of the call coming in, staffed with 5 personnel, including 2 medical. CPR was administered and AED was applied. The patient regained a pulse and began partially breathing. Other responders arrived within minutes to assist with transfer to the ambulance and the STAT MedEvac landing zone. By the time he was being loaded onto the helicopter, the patient was conscious and talking!
There are a lot of factors that go into providing a quality service. Continual training, certification, re-certification, reviewing of training and planning for contingencies take hours of personal time from an army of volunteers. Evenings and weekends can be filled with required classroom time to fulfill state requirements for enhanced services. I find it intriguing to follow our local VFDs as they document and celebrate those who gain ratings for advanced firefighting or EMS skills.
All of these firefighters (and really, fire fighting is a small part of their skill sets of regular demands) require turnout gear and personal protective equipment that costs over $10,000, often paid by the first responder themselves. Their trucks, if purchased new, are custom built and surpass $1 million for an engine. Many smaller companies buy used and kit them out to fit their needs, but still at a high cost. Maintenance and repairs continually require time and money.
I guess, like most things in life, it all comes down to money. Federal and State money is allocated to departments or available as grants. Local tax dedicated to support the Fire Department or EMS help, but regularly there is a shortfall in funding to sufficiently provide operations, upkeep and improvements to the station. Administration has a big job handing the paperwork side of the department, filing reports, writing grant applications, paying bills and managing the business aspects. This is why many stations have adapted and made fundraising a permanent position within the force.
When costs to provide a service exceed static funding from government sources, the difference means service levels have to be cut, or the local community must step up. Raffles, dinners and other fundraisers give a critical buffer to department’s budgets, allowing them to continue to reinvest into the community. It is one reason we are happy to support our close departments with a variety of products for their drawings, better pricing on the tools they need and donations to improve their stations. Sure, it could be for selfish reasons. If we need their services in a hurry, I want them to be able to show up!
Daniel Karns and his wife own Clintonville Hardware & Rental along with other businesses. Join the discussion by contacting him at info@clintonvillehardware.com.