It's been said there are about 127,000 volunteer firefighters in Canada; a staggering number, indeed.
We won't even hazard a guess at how much it would cost annually to replace these dedicated and selfless men and women with full-time staff. Lets just say it would be well into the billions of dollars.
Editorial staff at community newspapers in this province often interact with these volunteers, whether it's at their annual ball and awards night, at the scene of a major emergency, or chatting while waiting in line at the local convenience store.
They usually have a few things in common: they love their communities, enjoy the comradeship and take a genuine interest in the safety and well-being of not only their family and friends, but all citizens.
Many of us have attended emergencies where these volunteers, often in the dead of winter, are risking their own health and safety for the benefit of others. It's something to see. They also dedicate many hours to training and fund-raising.
Most volunteer firefighters are talented individuals who excel at improvisation, fabrication and making due with less." These are much-needed skills in many volunteer fire departments, where limited resources and aging equipment often require a creative approach to keeping it all in working order and ready to respond.
And in many cases, the local fire brigade is often a crucial piece of the foundation that keeps a community strong and spirited and united.
What that said, we felt a nod of approval to the provincial government was in order. After many years of being dismissed and ignored by our elected officials, the provincial government is recognizing the benefit of investing public funds into volunteer fire departments.
Millions have been spent in recent years on the purchase of pumper trucks, rescue units and aerial ladders, and in most cases the communities are only asked to pay 10 per cent of the purchase price. This year alone, the province is spending $2.5 million for 11 new vehicles, including a much-need quint aerial ladder for the Carbonear Volunteer Fire Department.
These investments do more than just allow for the purchase of a shiny new truck and improve emergency services. They also boost the morale of the volunteers who often form the backbone of these communities, many of which are struggling to remain viable in the face of declining and aging populations.
Sure, it's smart politics, and we're confident in saying the politicians who get to turn over the keys expect to be rewarded at the ballot box when election time rolls around. That's reality. But more importantly, these volunteers are receiving a much-deserved show of support. That's something we can all be pleased about.
Terry Roberts, senior editor
The Compass
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