11/25/2009 11:51:00 AM 250 volunteers man rural departments
Whether it's a structure fire at 2 o'clock in the morning, a motor vehicle accident in the afternoon or an emergency medical assistance call at various times of the day, Neshoba County's 250 volunteer firefighters respond to help their neighbors and their community in times of need.
Neshoba County's 12 volunteer fire departments along with other county and city first responders are being recognized this week by their community. (See the First Responders special section inside today's Democrat.)
The 12 volunteer fire departments are a critical part of the emergency response system in Neshoba County and provide numerous emergency services in addition to fire protection and fire suppression, said Jeff Mayo, emergency management director. They also respond to motor vehicle accidents, emergency medical assistance calls, severe weather situations and many others to provide emergency services.
The fire departments have 12 primary fire stations and 16 substations with more than 80 individual fire apparatus including 17 Class A pumpers, 17 non-Class A pumpers, and 36 tanker apparatus in various capacities with up to 9,000 gallons in the largest.
This year through Nov. 1, volunteer fire departments have been dispatched to 990 emergency calls including 35 structure fires, 16 vehicle fires, 63 other types of fires including grass, woods and brush fires, and 447 emergency medical assistance calls which includes motor vehicle accidents.
In 2008 departments were dispatched 1,197 times spending over 4,300 hours of volunteer time working emergencies in their communities. The personnel that volunteer their time with the volunteer fire departments in Neshoba County receive no compensation for risking their lives to respond and help their neighbors, Mayo said.
A brief summary of each fire department:
Arlington Volunteer Fire Department
Arlington serves northwestern Neshoba County, operates two fire stations and has two Class A pumper apparatus. Allen Tucker is the fire chief.
The department has been working toward a Class 8 fire rating and has recently completed two successful water shuttle tests to request a rating test by the Mississippi State Rating Bureau. To achieve a Class 8, the department must pump 500 gallons of water per minute for one hour and allow for 10 percent spillage, a total of 33,000 gallons of water.
County Line Volunteer Fire Department
County Line is a Class 8 rated fire department, serving south central Neshoba County. The department operates two fire stations and has two Class A pumper apparatus. Ronald (Buddy) Gardner is the fire chief.
The department meets monthly for training sessions and has performed their water shuttle test to maintain their current Class 8 fire protection rating.
Dixon Volunteer Fire Department
Dixon is a Class 9 rated fire department, serving southwestern Neshoba County. The department operates two fire stations and has two Class A pumper apparatus. John Bates is the fire chief.
The department has recently successfully completed a water-haul operation to perform the water supply requirements to decrease their rating to a Class 8. They are working toward another successful water haul test and will then request a review by the Mississippi State Rating Bureau.
East Neshoba Volunteer Fire Department
East Neshoba recently became a Class 9 rated department. The department serves the central portion of eastern Neshoba County and also the Bogue Chitto Reservation. It has one Class A pumper, and maintains four fire stations. Wayne Eakes is the fire chief.
The department is currently working on an elevated storage tank project and determining the resources and requirements for reducing their rating to a Class 8.
Fairview Volunteer Fire Department
Fairview is a Class 8 rated department serving southwestern Neshoba County adjacent to the City of Philadelphia. It operates a single fire station and has two Class A pumpers. Amanda Pinter is the fire chief. The department recently received a Volunteer Fire Assistance National Fire Plan Grant administered by the Mississippi Forestry Commission to acquire 10 wildland firefighter ready kits.
Hope Volunteer Fire Department
Hope is a Class 9 rated department, serving west central Neshoba County. The department operates two fire stations and has one Class A pumper. Robert Neese is the fire chief.
The department recently completed retrofitting their primary tanker apparatus to make filling the tank safer, quicker and a one-person operation. They are currently determining the resources and requirements to become a Class 8 rated department.
House Volunteer Fire Department
House is a Class 9 rated department, serving southeast Neshoba County. The department operates two fire stations and has one Class A pumper. Jason Tucker is the fire chief.
The department has just acquired a 5,000-gallon water truck which is being converted to a fire department tanker. This will require re-plumbing the apparatus and adding a 10-inch quick-dump valve for delivering the water to a portable dump tank.
Linwood Volunteer Fire Department
Linwood is a Class 8 rated department, serving south central Neshoba County. The department operates three fire stations and has two Class A pumpers. Gerald Spears is the fire chief.
The department is training and working to maintain their Class 8 fire protection rating while meeting their mission of providing emergency services to their community.
Longino Volunteer Fire Department
Longino is a Class 10 rated department, serving the area of the county around the north side of the City of Philadelphia. The department operates a single fire station and has a Class A pumper. Steve Johnson is the fire chief.
The department provided and completed an automobile extrication class for their firefighters earlier this year. They also installed a new 500 gallon-per-minute pump on their tanker apparatus and re-plumbed it to provide enhanced water delivery and capabilities.
North Bend Volunteer Fire Department
North Bend is a Class 8 rated fire department, serving northeast Neshoba County. The department operates three fire stations and has one Class A pumper. Donnie Luke is the fire chief.
The department has just received notification of designation to receive a $70,000 grant for the purchase of a new Class A pumper apparatus through the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program provided by the Mississippi Legislature and administered by the Mississippi Department of Insurance.
Stallo Volunteer Fire Department
Stallo is a Class 10 rated fire department, serving north central Neshoba County. The department operates two fire stations and has one Class A pumper. Adam Mitchel Lyon is the fire chief.
The department is currently determining the resources and requirements to reduce their fire protection rating to a Class 9.
Tucker Volunteer Fire Department
Tucker is a Class 8 rated fire department, serving the part of the county southeast of the City of Philadelphia and including the Tucker Reservation. The department operates four fire stations and has one Class A pumper. Myron Williams is the fire chief.
The department has placed a new fire station on Highway 486 in use this past year and acquired a pumper apparatus that is housed at the station along with a tanker. The department continues to maintain their Class 8 fire protection rating.
