Fire departments need more volunteers

Have you ever been involved in a vehicle accident, or had your house catch on fire, or any other life threatening emergency situation where you, your loved ones or someone you know desperately needed help?

I hope and pray that you never do, which brings me to the point of asking for help to help you, your family, your neighbors and your community. For those of you who may not know, all volunteer emergency services across the valley are very short-handed and need volunteers. Friends helping friends, neighbors helping neighbors.

I am a retired volunteer fireman, but due to the shortage of help on my home town fire department, the Martin City Volunteer Fire Department, I came back to help as best I can for those in need. Somebody has to care, somebody has to help.

A classic example of how short-handed we are, including our neighboring fire departments, such as Hungry Horse and Coram-West Glacier, we responded to a structure fire, yes, someone’s house was on fire, and there were only two of us from our department.

We are both over 60 years old, but we try to do as best we can. One man to run the pump, one man to be on the end of the fire hose. It doesn’t paint a very good picture if you were the house owner, does it?

Another example — we were called out to a vehicle accident within our district, possible entrapment, we are the department with the Jaws of Life in the event someone needs to be cut out of the car within the golden hour. Most departments operate with a minimum of five firefighters to perform an extrication rescue. We are lucky to have two or three of us, plus someone needs to do traffic control.

We have all the good trucks, all the good tools, all the training — we just don’t have enough personnel to get the job done expediently, professionally and efficiently. Many times we have to ask for mutual aid from another department, such as Columbia Falls or Badrock or others, due to the lack of enough people, but it takes precious time to get them to our scene where someone’s life hangs in the balance. Plus, now their district is left short-handed in the event something happens in their home town or area. It’s a most unfortunate situation for those in need.

Therefore on behalf the Martin City Volunteer Fire Department and all departments throughout the Flathead Valley, I’m asking if you could find the time to please be a part of our team. We provide everything — the tools, the training, the gear, the trucks, even a retirement pension.

There was a time when neighbors helped neighbors, when friends helped friends, when people were proud to be a part of a valuable team. I know there are folks out there who care, that’s why I told my chief I would take the time to write this, in hopes that it will reach those who care.

Come and be a part of a team that proudly helps others. Thank you for your time. My chief is Tom Torpen, 406-892-3132, or please feel free to call me at 406-387-5033 or assistant chief Tom Meskimen at 406-387-5087. Be safe out there and merry Christmas.

Ron Rabidue lives in Martin City.