Lt. Charles Kelly
Fire prevention week, which is observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9th falls, found many of the FLOW area volunteer firefighters visiting schools and libraries, and holding other events to raise awareness of fire prevention. And just to clarify for any readers unaware, there is only one type of firefighter in Franklin Lakes, Oakland, and Wyckoff: volunteer.
Prior to continuing with the subject of Fire Prevention Week, it should be noted in these economic times that the existence of a volunteer fire department is one of the few areas of a municipal budget where significant savings are firmly established. The establishment of a paid fire department would probably add, on average, over $500 a year to the tax bill; and, that’s a conservative estimate.
Chief Peter Sondervan
This past week volunteers were out educating on fire safety and prevention. Since 1922 the week of October 9th has been Fire Prevention Week. This date was chosen to commemorate the great Chicago Fire of 1871. It’s also an appropriate time as Halloween ushers in a season of holidays where many home fires are started by candles, with December being the highest month for home fires started by candles. During 2005, an estimated 15,600 home structure fires started by candles were reported to local fire departments. These fires resulted in an estimated 150 civilian deaths, 1,270 civilian injuries and an estimated property loss of $539 million. In general, over a million and a half fires were reported for 2007 with over 3000 deaths and over 17000 injuries.
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.
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.
For those interested in learning how to join, either as a firefighter or support person, please contact OaklandFD.com. The website also offer details and pictures on the numerous calls the department responds to on a regular basis.