We respond as soon as we can

Volunteer Fire Fighters

Dear Editor,
In response to your comments in last week’s Rainy River Record.
Our Volunteer Fire Department is made up of citizens of Rainy River & Dawson Township. About 1/2 of these volunteers work out of town, the rest in or close to town.
Last Monday all of our members, who work out of town, were at work (railroad etc). The rest were at their work. Two members came from Sleeman, one was 10 miles north of town & 2 were at work in town.
As it turns out all the members who could attend the page did so as fast as they could, some could not leave work.
When these volunteers leave work their businesses or their bosses businesses slow down or stop! Yet they still volunteer their time.
These volunteers dedicate their time to help our community by training after work & weekends so that when they are called they can help the public, whether at a fire, car accident etc. These volunteers are not paid to do this job.
We are not complaining because we wish to volunteer our time; but we will respond when & if we are able, as soon as we can. After all, we are volunteers & do not sit at the hall waiting for a call. If you wish this to happen pay for full time fire fighters & your taxes will go up.
We can always use more members but it seems to us that the complainers are at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to helping. So Ken, please fill out an application; move up a rung or two & quit insulting your volunteers.
–Rainy River
Volunteer Fire Fighters