Volunteer opportunities with fire and EMS

Think you couldn't possibly volunteer for one of the county's five fire districts? Think again, says Randy Hoven, fire chief for Wahkiakum County Fire District 4.

When Fire District 4's M.D. Johnson asked if I would be interested in volunteering, I said "I'm too old and decrepit." He said, "Do you think you could drive that tender over there?" I said, "Well, yeah. I could do that." His response was "If you could do that and watch over the crew while they're fighting a fire, then we could use you."

The requirements are variable, and not every single person must fulfill all of the needs. Obviously, having stamina is necessary for much of the work. Being able to drive a big rig is useful. So, too, is being able to carry 50 to 60 lbs. of gear. The people who aren't claustrophobic do wear fire-retardant clothing called bunker gear and go into burning buildings. YES! Burning buildings.

Typically, the fire districts do one evening of training drills per week, with additional training throughout the year. In a normal year, Fire District 4, with stations on State Route 4 across from the Chevron station and on Elochoman Valley Road at Beaver Creek responds to 50 calls, according to Chief Hoven. To remain a volunteer firefighter, District 4 requires personnel on the roster to respond to at least 10 percent of calls and attend at least 10 percent of training drills in a year giving people the flexibility they need to work or leave the area, if they should wish. Typically, most volunteers end up responding to more than the required minimum in both calls and drills.

Besides fighting fires locally, the crews provide support to teams fighting wildland fires throughout the state. This assistance generates income for the local fire districts that goes toward equipment and operating costs.

Chief Hoven says it generally takes about a year of volunteering for a recruit or new firefighter to really learn the ropes. In addition to on-the-job training, people can enroll in fire academy for volunteer firefighters. District 4's Jason Lewis recently attended the academy in Pacific County on Tuesday nights and Saturdays for four months to obtain his certification. Having that certification can give someone a leg up if they ever decide to apply for a full-time firefighter position.

In an attempt to interest more young people in volunteering, District 4 has a cadet training program for 16- and 17-year olds. They currently have three students in the program who attend weekly drills. When the cadets turn 18, they'll be able to actually go out and fight fires with the team.

A benefit of volunteering with one of the fire districts is a pension program administered by the state. Volunteers invest at five years in the program. For 25 years of service, the cap for the pension plan, the monthly pension a person would receive is currently at $300 a month. In addition, volunteer firefighters are covered with life and disability insurance.

Wahkiakum Emergency Medical Service

On the other side of the coin is the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) of Wahkiakum County. Like our fire departments, our ambulances based out of the Cathlamet and Gray's River fire houses are staffed by volunteers.

A long-time veteran of the county's EMS system, Dan Bigelow, who serves as the county's prosecuting attorney, says they can always use new volunteers, with them, it's often a two-step process. People frequently come in with no medical training at all. In the beginning, they start going out on calls, a.k.a runs, learning as they go. Until they complete classwork and pass a test to become certified as an emergency medical responder, they don't actually provide any medical assistance to the patient.

Ambulance volunteers are scheduled to be on-call once a week from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and must be within five to ten minutes of the Cathlamet or Gray's River fire houses when they're scheduled. They may respond to additional calls during the days or other evenings if they are able.

Sometimes volunteers continue their education, becoming EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians). Each ambulance run must be staffed by at least one EMT.

Volunteers on the ambulances attend a two-hour class with their team members once a month.

Like volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical responders are covered by life and disability insurance through the state, and are also included in the volunteer firefighter's pension program.

Volunteer emergency medical responders and volunteer firefighters are the backbone of our community. We rely on them for incredibly critical services. We go to sleep every night knowing they're on call and will be there, if we need them, for what is usually a pretty desperate time for us.

Ask yourself if you could possibly help. Think you're too old? Chief Hoven says they've had volunteers in their 70s. Don't think you can do it because you're busy? Well, you know what they say – "If you want a task done, ask a busy person."

Volunteering with our ambulance crews or fire teams is one of the greatest gifts you could ever give the community, or even yourself or your family, as we all stand to use these services at one time or another. Just think about it.