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FIRE DESTROYS MILLSTONE MOBILE HOME - Volunteer Fire Department Crisis Looming |
| (07/14/2010) |
 Millstone mobile home a total loss A Millstone woman and her two sons lost their home and belongings to fire Tuesday afternoon. Cindy Hart Rush and her sons, ages six and three, were next door at her parents house when the fire broke out, according to her father, Ron Hart. Fire quickly spread through the interior of the mobile home, then erupted through the roof, with a call to 911 at 12:27 p.m. Ron Hart, who suffered serious burns in an earlier barn fire adjacent his residence, said the family had no clue as to what started the blaze. The structure and contents were a total loss. There was no insurance. 911 dispatched all three county departments to the blaze, but because most firemen were at work, there was a problem with the response. Units from the Grantsville VFD arrived in 24 and 27 minutes, with a utility unit from the Arnoldsburg VFD arriving in about 27 minutes, with a total of about five firemen and one pumper to fight the blaze. COMMENT: LOOMING VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT CRISIS By Bob Weaver Most West Virginia volunteer fire departments, particularly in rural areas, are struggling to have enough trained responders, linked to a severe decline in volunteerism and increased standards for training. The WV Legislature, struggling with declined revenue, has declined to approve initiatives that would attract and retain volunteers. In Calhoun, not unlike other rural counties, the three departments, in addition to answering fire calls, have been first responders for natural disasters, car wrecks, rescue, traffic control, brush fires, medical emergencies, lifting assistance, helicopter life-flights and many other situations. While anger seems directed toward responding volunteer firemen, the problem rises above their dedicated efforts. Recruitment efforts have had few results. A special story about what some are calling a crisis, will appear soon in the Herald.
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