I’m not against Volunteer firefighters. In the rural area they are all we have if we have a fire or emergency. Ever  since the last few years when they started getting federal and state money (remember how well that worked for our schools) things just sort of seem to be getting out of hand or strange.

We had a person have a seizure in the back of the park the other day. I expected to see medics and volunteer medics show up, but never dreamed that I would see a Pickup truck with the local volunteer decals and the title “Fire Chaplain” on it. I asked later who passed away and they said no one. I learned that the truck responds to all sorts of calls along with the medics. The LAST thing I want to see if they come out here for Michelle cutting herself on something, would be the Chaplains truck as I pull up. That will cause heart attacks on elderly people.

I think they are getting a little overboard trying to provide anything and everything they can just to get a vehicle and money for the position. They actually fight over fire and medical calls around here, answering calls in one another’s areas. Because the first unit on the scene gets to claim it as a “call responded to” even if it is not their area. You guessed it, they get granted federal and state funding depending on how many “calls” they respond to per year.

Imagine my surprise (which prompted this little soap box) as I sat here this afternoon listening to the scanner after the small thunderstorm passed through. A call went out on the volunteer fire channel about a tree blocking the highway.  In a few minutes I hear “Chaplain 1 on scene of downed tree”. Now that just sounds a bit odd. If not performing last rites on the tree, couldn’t they use a different call sign than Chaplain 1 ? but looking at it, he will get credit for responding to that call, on the books it will show “The Chaplain” responded to a call, it won’t matter that it was a deceased tree, but he responded to a call so it must have been chaplain services needed. So the department will get a call credit when the Vol. firefighters arrive, plus a chaplain call. Geesh!

I marvel some nights. I know if I have run off the road out here I want their help, but I see no reason for 6-8 volunteer vehicles blasting past my house wide open to get to one vehicle off the roadway. I think once the first one gets there they should  decide if more help is needed and cancel some of the inbound. Let them be available for something in their own area. I declare they look like boats at a Bass Fishing Tournament all racing to get to the sweet spot first and claim the prize.

Maybe I’m wrong, but how would you feel if you got a call that your child had been hurt and the paramedics called. You race home to be greeted with a Chaplain Truck in your driveway having never seen it before.

I just hope it never comes to seeing a Volunteer Fire Department Hearse.