Trainees will work to better the Middlesex community
Volunteers make a better community.
At a time when volunteerism is trending down, 18 young men have stepped forward with a desire to be firefighters. They are learning the many life saving aspects of being a first responder through the combined efforts of the Lower Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department in Deltaville and the Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department. This training will give them a foundation for official state level training later.
The Deltaville-Hartfield Basic Fire School has been meeting since January learning the basics that include CPR and how to use a back board to move a patient from a crashed vehicle. “They have surpassed my expectations with their enthusiasm and energy,” said Paul Murray, assistant chief of the Lower Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department in Deltaville.
“It is great to see this new group of young firefighters investing their time and talents in the long standing tradition and commitment to the volunteer fire departments of Middlesex County.”
Training
Firefighters will go through about 180 hours of training at the state level before they are qualified to go into a burning building, explained Kevin McNamee, chief of the Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department. “It’s a big commitment.” People with families might not be able to devote the time for training. Young men and women may have the time. And, younger recruits are good at social media, which is used to recruit members and fundraising, he added. “When they sign up there’s no pay or incentive for them monetarily, it’s just something that they want to do to help the community.”
A career move
Stepping forward to learn about firefighting will be a first step for some students who may choose professional firefighting as a career said long-time HVFD volunteer firefighter Joey Revere.
Becoming a professional firefighter could benefit the local volunteer fire departments, said McNamee, because the schedules of professionals at times puts them off duty during days, when many volunteers are working and unable to respond.
MVFD member Jamie Revere recalls being a firefighter when he was in high school and leaving class to respond to an alarm. Today, 43 years later he’s still a firefighter with the same department, a testament to the satisfaction that comes from being a volunteer firefighter.
Doubled calls
McNamee said the HVFD’s calls for service in 2022 number about 200, almost doubled from the previous year. McNamee explained that calls have expanded from structure fires and crashes to include assisting the Middlesex County Volunteer Rescue Squads with lifting patients, or for citizens who have fallen and can’t get up. “Who are they going to call? People call us, 24/7. And that’s the norm and it’s going to continue to grow, so that’s why we’re excited about all this new blood coming in.”
Delicate work
Motor vehicle crashes often trap occupants in twisted metal, sprinkled with broken glass.
The many firefighters on the volunteer fire departments are trained extensively in extricating crash victims. They must be always delicate, protecting the injured, and precise when using power tools to cut metal or using a hand saw to remove a windshield.
This week the Deltaville-Hartfield Fire School Winter 2023 students learned from experienced firefighters how to stabilize an overturned vehicle and then dissect it carefully to free the victim. They “rolled the dash” so a victim’s feet could be freed from a crumpled floorboard.
Support Middlesex fire Departments
The fire and rescue organizations in Middlesex County rely heavily on donations to provide their invaluable service when it’s most needed. It costs $4,000 to outfit one firefighter in protective clothing called “turn-out gear.” The costs of service continue to increase.
Below is a list of the departments and their mailing addresses where donations can be sent.
- Middlesex County Volunteer Rescue Squad
P.O. Box 98
Deltaville, VA 23043 - Lower Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 6
Deltaville, VA 23043 - Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 205
Hartfield, VA 23071 - Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 71
Urbanna, VA 23175 - Upper Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 75
Church View, VA 23032
