To the editor:

For the past year, I have wanted to address several matters concerning the Youngsville Fire District and provide the community with information I believe has not been fully or accurately represented.

Because I was serving as a Commissioner, I was advised not to publicly address these matters. I respected that direction and remained silent, even when statements were made publicly that I believed were inaccurate or lacked context. Now that I have resigned as a Commissioner, I believe it is appropriate to provide my perspective and clarify what occurred.

I am not writing to engage in personal attacks or create further division. I believe residents deserve to hear from those directly involved before reaching conclusions. There were opportunities for the four Commissioners to be approached and asked about these matters, but that rarely happened. Instead, statements from people who were not involved in the Department’s day-to-day operation or who did not regularly attend drills or emergency calls were accepted without the Commissioners’ perspective or complete facts.

I did not become a commissioner for recognition, power, or personal gain. I served because I believed in the Youngsville Fire Department and wanted to help ensure its firefighters had the equipment, resources, funding, and support necessary to protect this community.

Budget

The District’s financial challenges did not develop overnight, nor were they created by the current Commissioners. They developed over many years through circumstances and decisions that preceded the current Board. Operating a fire department safely requires substantial resources for apparatus, equipment, maintenance, insurance, training, facilities, and other needs.

The current Board faced difficult decisions involving finances and firefighter safety. I also believe it is important to note that the acting Chair initially agreed these concerns needed to be addressed before ultimately taking a different position. Residents deserve to understand how the District arrived at this point.

Apparatus

Commissioners have a responsibility to determine when apparatus should be retired, replaced, or sold based on condition, usefulness, safety, and Department needs. When the Board votes on the sale of apparatus, it is exercising its responsibility to manage District property and resources. Unfortunately, much of what has been publicly discussed has not included all relevant facts.

Letters

Two letters have been publicly discussed. One concerned mowing at the firehouse following a negative interaction between an individual and our volunteers during an emergency call, along with insurance concerns. The question was: if someone were injured or property damaged, who would be responsible?

The second asked an individual to attend a commissioners’ meeting to review Department responsibilities, with a commissioner providing support and oversight. Neither letter was intended to be disrespectful, punitive, or personal.

The volunteers

Perhaps most concerning is the effect this situation has had on the volunteers. Defamation, slander, and stories presented without proper context have created turmoil. Multiple members have recently resigned from the Youngsville Fire Department. Residents should consider the negative statements and attacks directed at people who responded to emergency calls, attended scenes, and put their safety on the line to help their neighbors.

Losing active volunteers is significant for a department that relies heavily on volunteers. The question should not simply be who left, but why people who gave their time and energy to serve ultimately decided to walk away.

The cost of volunteering

For years, these volunteers have sacrificed countless hours, holidays, birthdays, family gatherings, school events, and personal milestones to answer calls and assist their neighbors. They did not do it for recognition or financial gain. They did it because they believed in their community and took their responsibility seriously.

Volunteers have families, jobs, and responsibilities outside the firehouse. When they become discouraged enough to leave, replacing them is not always easy.

Moving forward

After having my character, judgment, and actions publicly questioned, I believe I have every right to provide my side of the story. I am not interested in continuing a personal dispute through the newspaper. I want residents to understand that there are multiple sides to what has occurred.

I hope the community takes a hard look at the misinformation that has unfolded and the lack of support shown to people who put their families aside to assist yours. Remember the hours, holidays, birthdays, and family milestones surrendered because an oath to serve our community was taken seriously.

I am proud of the time I spent serving as a commissioner, and I remain grateful to the volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to protecting this community. It is now in everyone’s best interest to take necessary safety precautions, because the manpower once available to protect you is no longer there.

Sadly yours,

Carissa Kohler

Ex-Commissioner