JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Haletown Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD), nestled within the town of Guild, is a local volunteer department that is always ready to serve the county during emergency situations.
First established in March 1975, HVFD is among Marion County’s most active fire departments, encompassing the largest fire district within the area. The district consist of over 2,600 structures and up to 12 miles of I-24, reaching all the way towards the Hamilton County border. This results in the department encompassing 70 square miles of land and the Tennessee River in the eastern section of the county.
Coley Brown, a volunteer fireman of three years at the department, explained how the job and responsibilities of the HVFD have grown over time. The number of fires and the complexity of each one has made responding more dangerous and costly. Materials mass produced for homes and buildings are far more flammable than decades prior, with each emitting dangerous fumes and being harder to extinguish. He additionally stated how homes are built with more open space, allowing for fires to spread faster than before. Because of this, new and deadlier hazards are formed for not only the victims caught during a house fire, but also for the firemen on duty working to save lives.
“In the old days, a solid wood beam in a house would last for many minutes in a significant flame. Today, the open frame trusses that are used in new construction, may only last six minutes in the same flame and then fail without notice,” explained Brown.
HVFD is equipped with an assortment of tools and vehicles in an effort to be ready for any emergency that occurs within the county, such as fires, accident extractions, water rescue, car fires, search and rescue, body recovery, medical assistance, and clearing downed trees from roadways. However, in recent years the department has been facing two major challenges in addition to the escalating dangers of modern fires. One of its major roadblocks is finding new volunteers to recruit to the department, as the rate of volunteers for volunteer departments have dropped nationwide due to increasing unavailability in addition to meeting FD requirements becoming more difficult. Additionally, HFVD’s county funding covers a little over 1/2 of the department’s expenses. The rest is paid for with extensive work gathering through donations from residents and local businesses along with occasional grants. However, the department’s annual funding is only 1/3 of the state’s recommended level for an effective fire department, leaving HFVD underfunded while keeping up with today’s rising costs for fire equipment and vehicles.
Despite the roadblock in budgeting, the department receives much support from local businesses and community members throughout the county, including Commissioner Jimmy Cantrell who paid out-of-pocket to provide firemen with a rehab truck to utilize when dehydrated or injured at the incident of a given fire.
A way in which the department works to close its budgetary gap is through its voluntary Fire Service Subscription Program. For only $35 a year, residents within HVFD’s fire district can help cover the costs for HVFD to be able to effectively respond to fires and accidents. HVFD Fire Chief Freddie Barnhill explained how if every resident within the district were to subscribe, the amount of funds earned directly would significantly increase the department’s budgetary levels closer to state recommended levels, while also the department’s effectiveness to responding to different emergencies.
“That’s a lot of money and we can do a whole lot of things with that,” said Chief Barnhill.
Despite the new challenges and dangers faced each year, whether physical or financial, all volunteer firemen for HVFD are committed to serving the residents of the fire district and beyond regardless of the hour or dangers.
For National Fire Month, HVFD recommends that you:
- NEVER WAIT TO CALL IN AN EMERGENCY
- Check smoke alarm batteries monthly or at least every 6 months [Call the Haletown FD if you need smoke detectors – They are free from the State]
- Sleep with bedroom doors closed
- Have a planned exit during a fire and practice with children
- Know where your extinguishers are, their type [A,B,C,K] and if they are current
- Use the manufacturer supplied charger for lithium battery devices and charge them away from flammable materials
- Get a Burn Permit when burning outside. This prevents false alarms and expensive tickets
- Register with the $35 Department Subscription Service to record information about your home and occupants