| 3
alarm fires! That’s a term most of us have heard from TV shows about
big city fire departments. A fire so large, so out of control 2, 3 or
more fire companies was required to extinguish it. But how does a small
rural fire department control its large fires with one station and
limited manpower and equipment. Two words, mutual aid!
Mutual Aid is the
process where a fire stations neighboring departments assist in the
event of large fires, accidents or disasters. We use it on a regular
basis. In fact we have used it to such success we have agreements with
departments such as Cambridge City, Straughn, and Milton where we
don’t even have to call for mutual aid. Whenever they hear we are
responding to a structure fire they roll engines, water and manpower
towards our location. We in turn do the same for them. This is
especially helpful during hours when our manpower may be low.
As a totally volunteer department we can’t require our
firefighters to be on-call or in town. We have to go strictly on
available manpower. Some work close to town and their employers give
them time off for fires but most work out of the area. Many work off
hours. More and more people are looking towards larger cities for better
paying employment. The days our parents enjoyed of working day time
hours close to our homes in rural communities are vanishing. This
applies to other volunteer departments across the nation. A shortage of
trained available manpower exists and is a growing problem for the
future of rural firefighting. That’s where mutual aid fills the gap.
A good example of mutual aid occurred just this evening.
Cambridge City received a call of a rural structure fire. The instant
they received the alarm not only Cambridge City firefighters
responded but personell from Milton and Dublin were also in route.
Just six minutes after dispatch 3 engines, two tankers and a rescue unit
rolled onto the fire scene with 3000 gallons of water and 14 men and
quickly extinguished what could have been a major fire.
Without the cooperation between departments and officers
this kind of response would not be possible. Our helmets are off to the
members of our neighboring departments! We all know the next run could
be to our own home. May God bless and watch after us all!
Lyndon
Wicker
|
