LONG EDDY – Volunteer firemen Pam Wayne, Hunter Shampine and James Eaton had a message for the community last Thursday night.

“We’re here as a last resort to rebuild the Long Eddy Hose Co. and not close the doors,” newly-appointed Chief Pam Wayne told the eight community members who attended the fire meeting to find out what they could do to help.

“We need to get people to join,” she said.

The Long Eddy Hose Co. suspended its service nearly six months ago and the fire district has been serviced by firemen from the adjoining Hankins-Fremont Volunteer Fire Company and Hancock Fire Dept.

“Every extra hand is a help,” Eaton told the crowd. “We won’t turn anyone away.”

Eaton and Wayne explained clearly to the attendees what a big commitment volunteer firefighting can be. 

Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations – BEFO for short – is more than 100 hours of training, Wayne said.

“And you also need a physical,” Sandy Ross, a 19-year member of the former Ladies Auxiliary, said. 

Eaton added, “Ninety-percent of our calls are for lines down  – which are pretty easy to handle.

“But you also have to learn how to talk on a radio to find the location,” he said. “And if we get a good storm, we might have two lines down at a time.”

Eaton explained how Fremont and Hancock fire companies are currently on automatic response to all fire calls in the Long Eddy Fire District, a system which has been in place for nearly two years.

Starting from scratch

Late last year, the Board of Fire Commissioners were officially going through the closing process when two commissioners, Eaton and Korky Karkkainen, said,  “Let’s give this one more shot.”

“The county [fire officials] does not want to shut anybody down,” Eaton said. “And I would not want the building  [firehouse] to close.

“Korky and I don’t want to see it shut down, that’s why we’re here,” Eaton said.

Shampine added, “Ten members would be a good solid starting point.”

Several of the community members who attended the meeting said they would do all they could to get the ball rolling.

Fire District resident Hillary Peake said, “I will help as much as I can. I have my Uncle Willy’s [Maxwell] blood in me. I will go door-to-door looking for volunteers if I have to.”

The Long Eddy Fire Commissioners, which meets the first Monday of every month is made up of: Chairman, Jenny Porter, Cheryl Porter, James Eaten, Matt Cooley and Korky Karkkainen.

The next meeting the Long Eddy Hose Co. is set for Thursday, February 20 at 6 p.m. and Wayne, Shampine and Eaten home they have a good turnout.

“We need membership,” Eaten said.