|
|
|
Volunteer firefighters, emergency responders burdened by gas prices
|
By WENDY MITCHELL Staff Writer
|
Their devotion to protecting the community is strong.
A volunteer firefighter said he and his fellow firefighters would probably forgo buying something for themselves to afford gas to respond in an emergency.
Volunteers may have long distances to cover when the siren sounds for help. Thanks to soaring fuel prices, out of pocket expenses for area volunteers and the agencies they support are getting tougher to meet.
Some Bracken County volunteer firefighters may travel a round trip of nearly 30 miles in their personal vehicles in the course of an emergency run, said Brooksville Fire Chief David Sticklen.
"Some of them that live close to each other may need to team up, if the gas prices keep going up," said Sticklen.
Even the fuel for the firefighting apparatus comes from the efforts of the volunteers.
 |
| Volunteer fire departments like Hillsboro's are feeling the effects of rising gas prices. Out of pocket expenses for area volunteers and the agencies they support are getting tougher to meet. Brian Hitch/Staff |
"We have four gasoline and two diesel trucks and all the fuel is paid for from the donation fund," he said.
Robertson County volunteer firefighters have a similar dilemma. Luckily the county allows them to refuel fire trucks at the county's expense. Their personal vehicles do not get that privilege and that is what they have to use when they respond to a situation where a fire truck is not necessary.
"We are trying to figure out how to juggle things to have gas to go on everything we get called out for," said Allen Burden, Robertson County firefighter. "We got called out to assist ambulances twice today (Tuesday)."
Burden was trying to arrange a car-pool situation with some fellow firefighters for that night.
With gas prices creeping toward the $3 mark, he offered to pick up another firefighter en route if they had another run.
"I get better gas mileage," he said.
When the prices topped $2 per gallon, firefighters began discussing some sort of stipend per run to offset the personal burden of fuel costs, said Robertson Fire Chief Larry Burden.
"We will be discussing that at the September meeting," said Larry Burden.
Though the life squad members in Fleming County are paid a regular wage, the impact of high fuel prices on the ambulance service is the same as everyone else is feeling, said Fleming County EMS Director David Eldridge,
"It is costing more and more just to travel to work. That has an affect on everything else," said Eldridge.
Personal travel is well planned to conserve fuel, he said.
"I got a taste of it when I had to go to Grayson and stopped at the little store here to fill up. I used to put maybe $20 in the tank to top it off ... it cost me $58 this time. There does not seem to be an end in sight," said Eldridge.
Though the fuel taxing structure in Ohio is a bit different than Kentucky, gas prices there have hovered in the same range. Volunteers are also the backbone of fire and emergency medical services in Brown and Adams counties.
"Almost all fire and EMS departments in Brown County are volunteer," said a Brown County dispatcher. EMTs who live in Ripley are frequently called to assist EMS. They may get called out several times a day."
A moral commitment to their community means dual roles for some volunteers in Adams County
"Besides the volunteer fire department we have a volunteer life squad in Winchester (Ohio). Whenever they have a call they have to drive their personal vehicles to get the ambulance and go on. Gas prices can put them in quite a predicament when the get called out two or three times a day," said Cindy Stout, Winchester Fire Department Auxiliary member.
Community support through donations is what keeps everything going, said Sticklen as he echoed the sentiment of the other volunteer agencies in asking the public to continue to support volunteers and emergency agencies in any way they could.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 370. |
|
|
Reader Comments
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.
Add your own comments:
|
Copyright © 2008 Maysville Newspapers, Inc., A Lee Enterprises Publication
This site is protected by applicable copyright laws and no part may be reproduced, transmitted or used in any way other than its intended purpose without the prior written permission of The Ledger Independent. Click here to view The Ledger Independent's privacy policy. |
|
|
Jobs
Homes
Cars