Appreciation to Fire and Rescue Personnel

If you couldn’t already tell from our front page this week, we have had our fair share of disaster and tragedy this week for our small town.

We have had more this week than I can remember since I’ve been back home, and find that it is unfortunate, but makes me oh so humbled.
Being that I am the editor’s daughter I had to fill her shoes this weekend as she was out of town with my stepdaddy for opening weekend of hunting season. I was put in charge of the camera and the portable scanner and told that I was to respond to things that I heard just as she would if she were home.

I took this lightly, as I tended to ignore any attention signal on the scanner previously. I would listen, but make no major adjustments to my schedule to respond.

Since I have been working at The News, I have become more adept to the signals and even know the meaning of the codes and signals used most often.

Friday night, I went out early, and was home by about 1 a.m.
I laid down hoping to sleep in on my usual Saturday. About 3 a.m. I awoke to my puppy barking terribly, and me groaning that I should have put her in her kennel last night. Little did I know that about five minutes later the scanner would sound and attention signals ring out.

I listened and heard of a house fire on Jackson Lake Road. It was cold outside and warm in my bed and I thought that I could just turn over and my mom would never know if I heard them or slept right through.

Whether my mom was telling me to go or I heard the attention signals three times, I got up found some jeans and was “en route.”
I got to the far end of Jackson Lake road, near Martin’s Marina to a house fire. It was in that moment that I felt horrible that I even hesitated to stay in bed as long as I did.

I looked at the fire, and remember thinking of how thankful I should be that it wasn’t my house that was ablaze.

As I walked around in the cold air, snapping pictures of flames I noticed the responders on the scene. Some of them firefighters and some of them medics, also two deputies.

I wondered if they were paid to respond, and how many of them were volunteers who did this type of thing no matter how warm their bed was, just out of goodness.

I was humbled and almost overwhelmed as onlooker watched the house burn, and the responders hurried around doing all that they could.
I realizedduring this time of bad news, that there are some great people in our community. The women and men who volunteer, especially, but those who have been hired to fill those positions in the fire, 911, and EMS should be thanked daily.

They are the ones who are criticized and need to be lifted up. Thanked for their part in the safety of our town and county.
If you see someone who does this be sure to let them know that we need them, and more importantly that they’re appreciated.
I feel safer in my new home here, because of them. Lift them up and aid in the support of their efforts in our community.

As a side note: If you have ever met me, you know that I am soft spoken most of the time, and tend to be timid around people that I don’t know.

I am very thankful to have my cousin, Elizabeth on hand to respond to things when I roll my eyes, or just feel guilty photographing someone else’s loss. She is great with a camera and with staying out of the way, but being a bit more assertive on scenes.

Thanks, Elizabeth. You’re great and I love you….