Fire Departments Seek Volunteers
By DAVE GOSSETT For the News-RegisterArticle Photos
BRILLIANT - Brian Harvey was 14 years old when he joined the village junior firefighters.
Harvey wanted to join because his mother, grandfather and two uncles already were part of the 45-member department. At that time there was a waiting list to become a member of the volunteer fire department in Brilliant.
Harvey, now president of the Brilliant Volunteer Fire Department Association, recently joined other volunteers in asking area residents to consider becoming a part of the department ranks that now number 22 members.
"The Brilliant Fire Department was officially organized in 1923," Harvey explained. "We know a department existed prior to that date but, as of 1923, we can determine there were four calls for the year. In 1987, we had 43 members, 23 of them were emergency medical technicians and we saw 350 calls into our department. In 2008, we had 22 members, 13 of them were EMTs and we had 500 calls."
He noted the department so far this year has had 87 calls.
"We do what we can. But we aren't always available. Many of us have jobs that don't allow us to leave. And our top three medical responders each have more than 40 years of service. They also have their own health issues," Harvey said.
"The number of emergency calls are going up and the number of volunteers are decreasing. It's a problem that is facing many of our departments in Jefferson County," said Harvey.
An informal canvass of the community by the volunteers found some interest in joining the department.
"We had two adults who expressed an interest as well as three potential junior members who talked about joining the department. That is what is so important. We need the adult volunteers now but we also need the younger volunteers for the future," noted Harvey.
"Joining a volunteer fire department these days is much different than it was years ago. It is much more than just putting water on a fire, and the requirements to be a volunteer firefighter are much more stringent. Today's firefighters are required to take continuing education classes as part of their training," explained Harvey.
"When I was a kid my uncles and grandfather were involved here. I basically grew up here. Joining the fire department was always something I wanted to do," recalled Harvey.
"We don't have volunteers sitting around the fire station on a full-time basis. This is a difficult time for us. We have never had to conduct a membership drive before. But we are taking steps to resolve the issue," said Harvey.
In addition to the recruitment drive, Harvey said the department also is considering establishing a daylight shift paid crew.
"We are looking at paying two people for a Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift. We have been frugal and careful with our money and we may start the paid shift in April," noted Harvey.
Malcom Fellows is one of the longest serving department veterans with 48 years of service with the Brilliant VFD.
"I'm very much concerned about our future. The younger people are going away to college and they get a job and don't come back here. And we have lost members who have been forced to seek a job elsewhere," Fellows commented. "A lot of the smaller departments in the county have the same issue. Members are getting older or moving away for jobs and there are fewer younger members to fill the vacancies," noted Fellows.
"I'm one of the fortunate members who is able to carry a pager at work. Our members who work in the steel mill or the power plant can't carry their pagers or respond to a call while they are at work. We are very fortunate to have assistance agreements with our surrounding fire departments," Harvey said. "Our membership is down and our calls are up. We are doing the best we can but we need new members."
That's also the case in Tiltonsville, where Fire Chief Doug Dugan recently sent out a membership drive flyer with all village water bills.
"We would like to be at around 30 volunteers. We are now at 20 members, and probably 10 to 12 people do most of the work. Our numbers are down as well. The younger people are moving out of the area and there is no longer a strong sense of community like we had in past years," observed Dugan.
"We try to talk to the younger people living in the village and we are also considering a partially paid department with a couple of people scheduled at our fire station during the day shift. We are also working with the National Volunteer Fire Council and trying to establish a Fire Corps Program for support members. Those members wouldn't go out on calls but would help us with the administrative work, fundraising events and our fire prevention work," explained Dugan.
"I joined the Glen Robbins volunteer department when I was 12 years old, about the same time my dad did. That department had to shut down several years ago because of a lack of members. That could be the case for other departments in the area where the numbers keep going down," commented Dugan.
"We average around 500 calls a year and we could sure use some fresh bodies to train. Our department's average age this year is approximately 42 years old, working and with a family. Some of our members work more than one job and all of those issues affect our response time on occasion. It has come to the point where we are utilizing our mutual aid departments more and more to help cover incidents with us and for us," Dugan noted.
"Today's fire service is not your dad's or grandpa's fire service or even like it was when I started. We respond to many different types of incidents than we did in the past - we train for many different scenarios that may occur. And we handle so many more things these days that we never had to in the past," he added.
"Anyone interested should submit an application. We do a background check on all new applicants and then require a new member to attend either a basic firefighting class or basic EMT class during their first year," said Dugan.
"If anyone thinks they can help in any way, contact your local fire or EMS department. You never know how you can help or what you can do until unless you ask," stated Dugan.
One department that has seen recent success in a grassroots effort to attract new members is the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department.
"I have been very blessed. We have gone from 10 members to 28 members in one year through our publicity efforts and just walking around the village asking people if they would consider joining the department," said Doug Wilson, Smithfield fire chief.
Brilliant is having some trouble getting volunteers because that is a first-class department," said Wilson.
Bergholz Fire Chief John Marsh said he also counts his blessings for his volunteer members.
"We have 25 members right now which is good for a department our size. We are always open to new member applications, but at this point we are in pretty good shape," said Marsh.
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Tenente61
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03-18-09 5:55 PM
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The volunteer depts. around here are all having trouble with recruitment and retention. That is a FACT! Many Volunteer outfits that were all volunteer have now hired paid crews for coverage. You can spin it however you want to. Why are you so excited to see people lose jobs? Let it go!!
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Tenente61
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03-18-09 5:50 PM
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6000 runs a year in Wheeling..again ellis..apples to oranges...give it up!!
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GETACLUE
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03-18-09 5:46 PM
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Considering that Wheeling is more than 2 times the geographical size and the fact that the City is mixed residential , business and industrial. I think you can see it is comparing APPLES and ORANGES. Keep trying and THANKS FOR PLAYING!!!
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EllisWyatt
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03-17-09 6:52 PM
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Mt. Lebanon, a suburb of Pittsburgh, with about 34,000 residents, has a mixed paid/volunteer fire department. In 2008, the avg. response time for structure fires was 3 minutes, 32 seconds. The department has 17 paid and 43 volunteer firefighters. The city is 6.2 square miles of densely packed residential and commercial areas. The department has one station and 11 total vehicles. The department has the highest ISO rating in Allegheny County, with a Fire Class Rating 3. All but 1 vehicle are 1995 or newer. The department has strict physical fitness standards. In 2008, the dept. responded to 1,643 calls, with structure fires up 11%. Total losses were decreased 28%. ZERO fire deaths, ZERO lost Firefigher work days. Per capita fire loss of less than $25 per capita. Total expenditures: $2.651 million. Revenues: $383,000 ($68.69 per capita in expenditures). How does this stack up to Wheeling? I think it is an interesting comparison.
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InsideGuy
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03-16-09 8:55 PM
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I have said this many times before, I pay 50$ a year for a county fire service fee, which in reality is a 50$ promise of hope, Hope that enough people with a fire truck will arrive at my house in time to put out a fire, if i pay any fee for anything, i should be assured prompt professional service, not hope, I have all the hope in the world and it is free.
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WVSonDC
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03-16-09 2:43 PM
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GETACLUE: I am comparing an "Apple" to an "Orange" and you keep wanting me to discuss a "Banana"! I'm not going to do it. Go find someone else to pick an argument with. If you read the thread, you will see that my post was in response to a question posed to me by WVHOOPIE. Go mess with ELLISWYATT, he's always looking for a good debate!
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GETACLUE
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03-16-09 2:08 PM
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"."fact that is is 3 times more expensive to own investment real estate in Wheeling, WV than in other more desirous real estate markets in the Mid-Atlantic."" I SEE SO WHEN I BRING UP AN AREA JUST A MERE 60 MILES FROM HERE ...IT DOESN'T COUNT. I am sorry, I didn't realize that the areas that don't support you statement that were excluded .
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WVSonDC
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03-16-09 1:53 PM
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GETACLUE: You need to Get A Clue! As I stated in a previous post, Allegheny County has nothing to do with my position that I have stated. I am discussing Wheeling, WV and other communities in which I currently own investment real estate. I do not own investments in Allegheny County, PA...therefore, Allegheny County, PA is not relevant to the discussion.
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GETACLUE
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03-16-09 1:48 PM
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WVSonDC....."fact that is is 3 times more expensive to own investment real estate in Wheeling, WV than in other more desirous real estate markets in the Mid-Atlantic." Move your investment property to Allegheny County and then tell me this statement is true.
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WVSonDC
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03-16-09 1:09 PM
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GETACLUE: Tenent's Post: WVSonDC: "$150.00 for Fire Monitoring Fee"?? To whom do you pay this? I'm not sure what I didn't answer GETACLUE so I'll try again: Yes, I pay a Fire Service Fee, perhaps I used "Monitoring" instead of "Service", to The City of Wheeling as administered by the Finance Department's Revenue Division. Is this what you want to debate? Semantics? Regardless of what you call it or the City of Wheeling calls it or Ohio County calls it...it remains a fact that is is 3 times more expensive to own investment real estate in Wheeling, WV than in other more desirous real estate markets in the Mid-Atlantic.
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GETACLUE
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03-16-09 12:48 PM
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WVSonDC../..."$150.00 for Fire Monitoring Fee"?? FIRE MONITORING. You didn't answer TENENTE
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WVSonDC
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03-16-09 12:46 PM
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GETACLUE: My analysis and the facts presented speak for themselves. It is 3 times more expensive to own real estate in Wheeling, WV than in other much larger and more desirous communities in which I also own investment real estate. I was not speaking in reference to Allegheny County, PA.
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WVSonDC
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03-16-09 12:43 PM
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Tenent... I understand that my property taxes are paid to: "Sheriff Of Ohio County". However, since every property located in Wheeling, WV is also located in Ohio County, paying an excessively high property tax, regardless of the municipal entity that is administering the tax, is a cost of doing business in Wheeling, WV.
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WVSonDC
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03-16-09 12:40 PM
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TENENT... The "Fire Service Fee" is made payable to The City of Wheeling. Assessments are sent out by The City of Wheeling - Finance Department - Revenue Division.
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GETACLUE
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03-16-09 12:00 PM
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WVSonDC.... Move your 8 unit building into Allegheny County Pa and then tell me how the City of Wheeling over taxes you.
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Tenente61
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03-16-09 11:52 AM
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$6,811.59 in Property Taxes as assessed by "Ohio County" and not the "City of Wheeling" They are 2 separate entities.
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Tenente61
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03-16-09 11:50 AM
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WVSonDC "$150.00 for Fire Monitoring Fee"?? To whom do you pay this?
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WVSonDC
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03-16-09 10:41 AM
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WVHOOPIE I have seen a number of your sarcastic laced posts on this forum. I am interested in dealing in facts, without references to the Congo or any other meaningless references that do not promote the discussion. The point is very simple. I am a business man, former Wheeling resident and investor that would like to do business in Wheeling, WV. But, as you can see, why would investment dollars flow into the Wheeling market when the costs of doing business is so much cheaper in not only comparative markets, but markets that have better investment fundamentals. The way I see it...Wheeling, WV needs people like me. They should be making it easier and less expensive to do business in the community.
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WVSonDC
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03-16-09 10:36 AM
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WVHOOPIE I typically don't go around throwing out numbers in a public forum, but it is the only way I can answer your questions... To illustrate: I purchased an investment property in Wheeling, WV valued in 2005; currently valued at $356,000. In 2008 I paid: - $6,811.59 in Property Taxes - $150.00 for Fire Monitoring Fee - $284.44 for Fire Waterline Fee - $200.00 Fire Protection Fee ($25 per apt.) - $25.00 Annual Business License - TOTAL = $7,471 or 2.1% of Value Compare this to a property I own in large southeastern city that is valued at $950,000. Total taxes and fees on this property are: $6,285 or 0.66% of value. Wheeling is more than 3 TIMES more expensive in this example. My case-in-point, illustrated with actual numbers. WHEELING...OPEN FOR BUSINESS
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wvhoopie
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03-16-09 7:47 AM
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WVSON-it would be interesting to see how you compare taxes in Ohio County to come to the conclusion that our taxes are the highest. Highest compared to what? My property taxes in Ohio County are substantially lower than those six miles from my home in PA. I have friends who pay six times the taxes I pay on a similarly priced land and home. My PA friends marvel at how low our taxes are. So just what are you comparing Ohio County taxes to? The Congo perhaps?
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EllisWyatt
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03-16-09 6:17 AM
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WVSON Yes, I know. You pay real property taxes, personal property taxes, hydrant fees, commercial fire service fees based on square footage and, if you have any tenants, I believe they pay $25 per tenant. On top of that, you have the B&O tax and the "friendly" local government, which seems to have an overly complicated permitting process. "Open For Business"
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WVSonDC
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03-15-09 10:53 PM
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I own investment real estate property in various states along the east coast and mid atlantic regions of the U.S. Wheeling, WV/Ohio County has not only one of the higher property tax rates which typically equates to a high level of municipal services, but then proceeds to charge me 1. A Fire Service Fee, 2. A Fire Waterline Fee and then has the balls to charge each of my tenants an additional Fire Protection Fee. With all the freak'n fire fees I pay, I should have firemen cutting my grass each week!
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wvhoopie
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03-15-09 12:27 PM
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Another fine post by Ellis the bitter.
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GETACLUE
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03-15-09 9:59 AM
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PCGS70.... Thank you for your juvenile input.
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PCGS70
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03-15-09 9:38 AM
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Why won't they let Moondog join
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