Dedicated firefighters serve Marion area
Staff reporter
What would you be willing to do for less than $10 an hour? Would you be willing to risk your life?
Members of the Marion Fire Department get paid $10 per run, which is, most times, much less than $10 an hour.
Why do these men risk their lives and take time off from paying jobs, when they are barely compensated for their efforts?
They do it to serve the residents of their community.
Mike Regnier, assistant fire chief, has been with the department the longest, beginning in 1975. He stays with the department because he wants to contribute to the community.
"I enjoy serving the community," said Regnier.
Travis Schafer is the newest member of the force, joining in November 2003.
Fire chief Thad Meierhoff is appreciative of the dedicated people who serve.
"At a moment's notice they're available and willing to serve," said Meierhoff. "I can't say enough good things about the volunteers."
The 18 men, currently serving the Marion Fire Department, have 220 years of combined experience.
Members are: Regnier, joined in 1975; Don Druse, 1977; Jim Davis, 1978; Thad Meierhoff, 1981; Marty Fredrickson, 1987; Stacey Collett, 1991; Chris Meierhoff and Danny Sherbert, 1992; Rick Cleeton and Dale Johnson, 1993; Christian Pedersen, 1995; Chris Killough, 1999; Tom McLinden and Steve Waner, 2000; Bill Bradford, Kenny Newell, and Scott Steward, 2001; and Schafer, 2003.
Johnson had served with the Caldwell fire department for 37 years and Steward with the Florence fire department for 15 years before joining the Marion firefighters.
A recent news story reported none of the personnel of the Riley County rural volunteer fire department were available to respond to a fire. Firefighters from a nearby city arrived to keep the fire from spreading but could not save the structure.
According to Kansas State Firefighters Association President Jim Keating, about half of the volunteer departments in Kansas are understaffed.
While small communities are concerned about fires during the work week, 13 of the 18 Marion firefighters work locally and are available during the weekday.
Eloise Mueller, mayor of Marion, also noted the concerns of other smaller communities at a recent Marion City Commission meeting and praised the department.
"Marion is fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers," said Mueller.
The men all agree the worst fires are during the winter. They related to a fire that occurred on Christmas Eve in Marion several years ago.
"We were all soaking wet," said Pedersen. "You could take off your coat and it would stand on its own, it was so frozen."
A neighbor offered his heated garage for the firefighters to use to get warm but found once warmed-up, they were wet.
"It was almost worse warming up and then going back out," said Killough.
However, the men appreciated the thoughtfulness of the neighbor.
The hot temperatures can take its toll on the men, too.
"During a drought in 2000, we had a run almost every day of the month," said C. Meierhoff.
In September, 2000, there were 22 runs in 30 days because of grass fires. In 2003, there were 39 runs total for the year.
In 2003, nine of the 39 runs were for vehicle fires, six were grass fires, four structure fires, and four were checking for smoke in homes. The remainder were vehicle accidents, hazardous material incidents, tree fires, mutual aid, electric transformer, and civic stand-bys.
The City of Marion has mutual aid agreements with neighboring cities to assist the department in case of a catastrophic event. The Marion Fire Department would reciprocate with those cities should they have a need.
The men have to be prepared for the call, which only may come three times a month. Weekly meetings and training sessions are available for the personnel.
An association has been formed, Marion County Fire Chiefs Association, to address training and other issues related to rural, volunteer fire departments.
"Lester Kaiser, Lincolnville fire chief, is a certified instructor," said Chief Meierhoff. "We've been able to attend firefighters' classes locally because of his efforts."
State schools are available, added the chief, but most of the training is on-the-job.
Adequate firefighting equipment is essential. The department has six sets of SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) gear with extra bottles and six sets of bunker gear (fire resistant pants and coats). More equipment and gear are needed.
"We need at least 10 (total) sets of bunker gear," said Chief Meierhoff. The department has received grant funds for radios and the bunker gear.
A grant was used for the refillable air storage tanks. Smaller bottles are filled from the larger ones and placed on the trucks.
The Marion Fire Department serves the city of Marion, and four townships — Centre (Marion County Park and Lake and surrounding area), Gale (Marion Reservoir and surrounding area), Wilson, and Grant, totaling nearly 200 square miles.
The department relies on a 1969 Chevrolet pumper truck. By 2007, a replacement truck will be purchased, if a grant is not obtained before then.
"It's hard to justify spending more than $200,000 for a vehicle that's used maybe 40 times a year," said Chief Meierhoff.
When the firefighters work a fire in a city, water and sandwiches are readily available. But when they work a fire in a rural area, they have to rely on the kindnesses of their wives, mothers, or neighbors near the fire scene.
A ladies' auxiliary, to provide water and food for the men during a fire, has been discussed.
For example, a recent fire in Aulne required the fire department to be at the scene until the state fire marshal arrived. The men took shifts during the overnight vigil with some staying on the entire time.
"The responsibility could be shared," said Chief Meierhoff, "instead of the same women providing the supplies all of the time."
Volunteer fire departments like Marion's is unique. And the Marion community continues to appreciate and support the efforts of these individuals.
