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AWARDS WE HAVE
The fascinating story of the burning of the Charlotte
Street area of New York’s South Bronx during the late 1960s and 70s
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Volunteering To Save Lives
Six students spend time each week volunteering at the Blue Township Fire
Department, just outside Manhattan along Highway 24. Tim Keegan, Bryce Mongeau,
Scott Sundell, Nate Karstens, David Graham and Chris Flynn put in more than 50
hours of training each. They help with fund-raising events, attend weekly
meetings and respond to about 175 emergencies each year.
For Tim Keegan, graduate student in animal science, the choice to become a
firefighter was natural. Keegan has been a volunteer since he turned 18 and
joined the department last June after moving to Manhattan.
"My dad had a lot of health problems when I was younger," he said.
"I watched volunteer firefighters come out and help him all the time. That
just inspired me a lot. It's something I'll be doing the rest of my life."
"My grandfather, dad, uncles, brother -- everybody in my family has been a firefighter. It has always been a part of my life," he said. "I heard about the Blue Township and heard it was a good department, so I joined." Mongeau has been a volunteer firefighter for five years and is also an emergency medical technician for Riley County Emergency Medical Services. He said department volunteers respond to everything from grass fires to medical emergencies. "We do the exact same things as other full-time departments," he said. "We face the same risks and train the same way." Fire chief Eric Ward said the 30-member, all-volunteer fire department covers areas outside the city along Highway 24 and the Tuttle Creek reservoir area. He said the department's activities fluctuate. However, firefighters often respond to up to three to four fires per day during grass fire season, mid-March to mid-May. "We could go three weeks without having anything happen, but then again, a couple weeks ago we had two house fires within two days of each other," he said. Ward said the department has undergone much transition since opening about 30 years ago. "In the past, the majority of folks who volunteered lived in the community. Like most departments, that demographic shifted. Now, most of our membership don't have any real ties in the community, or what we do get is a lot of energy and eagerness that we might not necessarily get otherwise. These guys are specifically here because they want to be firefighters." But maintaining that enthusiasm and involvement in the department is sometimes difficult when school responsibilities begin to add up. "You may be planning on doing homework for the next two hours, but if you're paged out, you have to find another time to do that," Mongeau said. "It's hard to balance school and maintain a relatively active status at the fire department, but it's very fulfilling," he said. "There's a strong sense of brotherhood between all the firefighters, male and female alike. We're like one big family and just kind of take care of each other." Nate Karstens, junior in computer engineering, said volunteering at the department is good leadership experience. "We're a pretty young department, but when a new person comes in, everyone chips in and teaches them how to do stuff," he said. "It's a good teaching opportunity." David Graham, junior in industrial engineering, has volunteered at the department for more than a year. He said he became a firefighter after hearing about the opportunity from other people in his residence hall. "It's a really good group of people," he said. "It's just a good feeling to know that you're helping out and doing it just because you want to help -- it's better than getting paid." Karstens agreed. "It takes a lot of time, but it's worth it," he said. "If you ever get into it, it's something you don't give up."
For More Information Contact: |
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Send mail to
jbest@bluetownshipfire.com with questions or comments about this web site.
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