Strawberry Madness 2

There was, as promised, bowls of strawberries, ice cream and cake being served by the Oakland Fire Departments Ladies Auxiliary on Tuesday evening. The firehouse might not have the panache of Wimbeldon where during the tennis matches they consume over fifty thousand pounds of strawberries and 1500 gallons of cream, but it was probably more fun. Depending on their age, the crowd of children, parents and seniors were either enjoying some coffee and conversation at the tables, or running around chasing each other.

It’s called a firehouse, but it’s more a home atmosphere when guests are invited in for a community event. From the ladies at the front door selling tickets, to the women behind the counter, to the young volunteers taking orders and delivering food, they all added different elements to create that feeling of being welcomed in someone’s home.

And the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department is home to a dedicated group of–as the name states–volunteers. More than 70 percent of the fire departments in the U.S. are all volunteer, but it’s a fact most people do not consider too often. There are approximately 350,000 career firefighters in America, and approximately 800,000 volunteers. The role of the volunteer fire department has been part of the fabric of American society since it’s inception. It was a civic organization that attracted volunteers from all walks of life. George Washington was a volunteer in Virginia, and Benjamin Franklin created the first official volunteer fire department in Philadelphia.

The existence of volunteer fire departments is facing threats from powerful forces in contemporary society. The need for volunteers is constant in order to maintain the level of security residents in towns like Oakland have come to expect. Personal obligations, limits on schedules, long commutes, and a myriad of other factors require a greater number of people to share this civic responsibility and provide the coverage needed. Another issue of concern is the effort on the state and federal level by lobbyists seeking to keep professional firefighters from acting as volunteers in their hometowns. This undermines the civic nature that gave birth to the country.

A bill introduced in Congress last month is meant to both honor and assist volunteer first-responder organizations. The bill will provide a one thousand dollar federal tax credit to volunteers in the hope that it might act as an incentive in attracting and retaining members.

“It has been estimated that volunteer firefighters save the American taxpayer more than $37.2 billion every year,” said Congressman John Hall of NY. “It is only right that our country allows them to save some of their tax dollars as well. This new tax credit to bring savings for volunteer firefighters is a good investment in the health and safety of our communities.”

If you want to learn more about becoming a volunteer firefighter, check out the Oakland Fire Department website. Or come to the Yawpo Ave firehouse any Monday night at 7:00 PM and ask to speak to one of the Chiefs.