Sisters fire district seeks volunteers

Sisters has a skilled professional fire department. However, the department continues to rely heavily on volunteers.

In fact, many professional firefighters have started out as volunteers, including Captain Gary Lovegren, who volunteered for 14 years before turning pro.

"It was the reason I changed my career path, because I enjoyed it so much," Lovegren told The Nugget.

Folks in Sisters currently have a chance to serve their community while enjoying the close-knit camaraderie of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. The department is accepting applications for volunteer firefighters. The next volunteer firefighter recruit training academy is scheduled for three consecutive weekends beginning on April 5. A "Volunteer Interest Open House" is set for Saturday, March 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St.

Volunteer firefighters participate in fire and emergency medical service-related drills and classes, respond to incidents, maintain apparatus, and assist with community activities and events.

"The volunteers are frontline responders," said Volunteer Coordinator Jeff Liming, who volunteered himself at age 40. "We work together with the career staff on any call ... at the discretion of the shift commander."

In Sisters, volunteers actively fight fire and bring aid to the sick and injured, but there is plenty of scope for support roles as well. People of all ages, backgrounds and skill-sets are encouraged to explore volunteer roles in the district.

"Not everyone has to wear an air pack and all the gear and hold a nozzle and go into a burning building," says Lovegren. "There's lots of jobs to do on a fire."

Firefighters note that Dave Moyer has volunteered for 40 years. Physical limitations don't allow him to haul hose and climb ladders anymore, but he still serves the district as an engineer manning a fire truck.

There are other roles as well. Lead fire medic Shawn Vial notes that Marsha Marr serves as an auxiliary and tailors the firefighters' pants.

"You wouldn't necessarily think someone who's a tailor would have a role in a fire department - but she does," he said.

Age is no barrier to active participation, as long as you can meet the physical requirements.

"I'm 55 and I'm still wearing a pack and punching a hose through the door," said Lovegren.

Bill Hayes is an active volunteer in Sisters in middle age.

Hayes first volunteered in North Eugene and he fell in love with it.

"One day my wife said, 'Why don't you do something, go join the volunteer fire department; you're hanging around the house too much,'" Hayes recalled with a wry smile. "She regretted it, because I never came home again."

When he and his wife moved to Sisters, he didn't miss a beat signing on with the local department.

"I wish I'd done it earlier in my life; I wish I'd gone that way," he reflected.

The Sisters-Camp Sherman fire department is notable for the integration of its volunteers with its paid staff. Some departments have a status divide, but not this one. In part, that's because of Sisters' history.

"The department started as an all-volunteer department," Lovegren explained. "Then it went to a paid chief, then we moved into having more (career) people - actually not too long ago; in the early '90s."

"Right now we have 34 volunteers on our roster," said Liming. "In addition, we also host auxiliary personnel."

While Sisters' fire department is a welcoming atmosphere, volunteering is not a casual commitment. The academy and initial training is an investment of a minimum 55 hours over just a few weeks, and attendance at Monday evening training is expected.

"We require minimum 2/3 attendance at training," Liming said. "During the course of the year, there's a series of mandatory trainings."

Obviously, availability to respond to calls is also important.

Timewise, volunteering often works best for those planning a career (see related story, page 21) or for those who are retired or semi-retired. However, some volunteers who work full-time have arrangements with their employers that allow them to respond to calls.

"We've heard a lot of that over the years," Liming said.

No previous experience is necessary. Liming notes that he volunteered with no previous experience of emergency response.

Those who have always wanted to experience emergency response, those who work well on a team and who are interested in serving their community while enjoying the esprit d'corps of a dedicated fire department are encouraged to come to the open house and explore the idea of volunteering.

Information and the application for being a volunteer are available online at www.sistersfire.com.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

• Email: editor@nuggetnews.com
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