Fire department seeks volunteers

The Hose Company No. 4 of the Rockingham Volunteer County Department of Fire and Rescue now is recruiting JMU students to assist with fire calls, rescues and fund raising.

"We are looking for someone with a desire to do something with enthusiasm, courage and dedication … who isn't afraid of hard work and is willing to accept the challenge of a difficult job," said David Harrison, president of The Hose Company No. 4.

Active membership has ranged from 25 to 30 firemen this year, four of which are JMU students.

The department answers about 1,200 calls per year, or about three calls per day, according to Harrison.

With such a small group of volunteers, the heavy workload can be difficult, according to senior Zeb Elliott. He said this is why the department hopes to raise JMU membership numbers this year.

The Hose Company No. 4 welcomes anyone with interest, regardless of ability.

"There are plenty of things to be done that do not require specific training, including fund raisers," Elliott said.

Anyone who is interested in working with the fire department should volunteer, Harrison said, even if he or she has no training because he or she still is valuable and can help with fund raisers and nontechnical assistance during calls.

For those seeking firefighting experience, extensive training is required. There is a three-month probationary period for new members, who then must receive 10 hours of training in order to be released to run calls. "Some people find that once they get their first call, it's very addicting, and they want to run call after call after call," Elliott said.

There are many benefits of volunteering, according to other volunteers. Some find that they've made lifetime friends after volunteering, Harrison said.

Others said the knowledge gained in the process was beneficial. "I love volunteering for the fire station because the more I volunteer, the more I learn," said junior Sarah Krebs, a JMU student volunteer. "‘Girls can't fight fires' is a quote of the past. If you live for excitement, you should hit up this volunteer opportunity."

For others, including Elliott, volunteering is all about helping the community. "I've had many experiences ranging from fighting the fire at Eagle Carpet to helping deliver a baby," he said. "The experience is a very enjoyable one, and personally rewarding in knowing that I have helped make a difference."

Time commitment is not a big issue either, according to Elliott. He said he runs an average of 22 calls per month, but still manages to be a full-time student and works 10 hours a week.

Also, there are no minimum requirements for volunteers, according to Harrison. While volunteers are allowed to work as little or as much as they'd like, to keep their gear, volunteers must run at least 5 percent of the year's calls.

Harrison said firefighting is a dangerous and exciting job, so only certain people are cut cut out for it. "A prospective member will be able to answer yes to some of these questions: Do you want to cut up cars? Do you want to run into burning buildings? Do you want to drive a fire engine? Do you want to do something meaningful with your spare time?"

The Hose Company No. 4 is not only the oldest, but also one of the busiest, volunteer fire departments in the area, according to an Aug. 29, 2002, article in The Breeze.

For those interested in volunteering, contact Zeb Elliott at elliotmz.