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Always There
By REBECCA CRUSE
Capital
Journal Staff
Wednesday,
July 12, 2006
Whether a home
catches fire in the middle of the night, a child is trapped in a car after an
automobile accident or someone is in danger in the waters of the Missouri River,
volunteers from the Pierre Fire Department are on the scene, ready to save
lives.
“A lot of people don’t know that we’re a volunteer department,” said Pierre fire
chief Bill Alexander. “Which, I guess, is a good thing because that means we do
a good job.”
And the department is currently looking for more volunteers to carry on that
responsibility.
“When people think of volunteer departments, they think of Gomer Pyle responding
to a fire in Mayberry,” Alexander said.
But the Pierre Fire Department is a far reach from the doltish character running
around with a garden hose.
Volunteers on the department become state-certified by completing approximately
120 hours of training and testing within their first two years in the
department.
Pierre
firefighters also continue to participate in a variety of regular training
sessions throughout their years of service.
“It’s probably about six to eight hours (of training) per month. A volunteer can
expect to be gone from home about two or three nights out of a month from about
6:30 to 9,” Alexander said.
The estimate did not include emergency calls to which volunteers respond.
Even though Alexander said that being active on the department is a considerable
time commitment, especially until a volunteer becomes certified, it also offers
benefits to its volunteers. Such perks include yearly physicals, free
memberships to the Oahe YMCA and a deferred compensation program after five
years. The department even pays for training, equipment and schools.
“Plus they’ll have the chance to give back to the communities and meet a great
group of guys. We try to do annual events like the department Christmas party. I
can’t really say that it’s a social club, but it kind of is,” said Alexander.
Department secretary Leon Ellis joined Engine Co. No. 1 in August of 2004. He
also received the 2005 rookie of the year award and is now 2nd Lt. of his
company. Ellis agreed that the bonuses included with being on the department
don’t necessarily come from free things.
“Some of my personal rewards so far are I have made some great new friends,
friends that trust me with their lives the same as I trust them,” Ellis, who
works as a software developer for the state, said.
Due to the recent departures of several firefighters, the department is
currently looking to fill up to 20 spaces, according to Alexander. The
Pierre department
has the capacity for 75 volunteer firefighters. It currently has around 60, but
at least nine of those are leaving for other jobs or for college. Two of those
are moving on to paid departments, now that they have firefighting certification
and experience.
“It’s a good place to start for people looking to go into firefighting,”
Alexander said. “As our track record shows, paid departments approve of our
training. They hire our guys.”
Alexander emphasized that he would like to see more women and minorities apply
to become members of the department.
“We don’t discriminate and we really need that,” he said.
To be eligible for the Pierre Volunteer Fire Department, individuals must live
within three miles of the city limits or work in Pierre. People also must be
approved through a background check and a health screening before they will be
accepted onto the department.
“And state workers are great, because the governor allows them to respond to
calls and take administrative leave,” Alexander said.
To apply to become a member of the Pierre Fire Department pick up an application
from Alexander at station No. 1, 215 W. Dakota Avenue, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
weekdays. Alexander can also be contacted by calling 773-7401.
Members of the Pierre Fire Department also become eligible for Pierre Rural
Fire, search and rescue teams, dive squad, technical rescue and hazmat.
“It takes a lot of dedication and stamina, I guess, because you do go through
extensive training. And it’s 24/7,” said Coolidge. “But we all enjoy it.”
Story by: REBECCA CRUSE
Capital Journal, Pierre, SD
www.capitaljournal.com
For more information about the
Pierre Fire
Department, e-mail the PFD
webmaster.
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