Who Wants to Be a Fireman?

CVFD Looking for Volunteers
Published on 2/7/2008

The Clinton all-volunteer Fire Department is looking for a few good men and women to join their ranks. The reason for the push in recruitment is that, even with 85 active members and about 32 people in support and auxiliary, the department has experienced a low number of volunteers available during the weekday. “It’s becoming more and more difficult to find people who can volunteer during the day,” said medical response technician and 19-year Clinton Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) veteran Ron Manware. Manware said that, excluding those who are on duty during the day, the most the department may see at a call during the weekday is anywhere from about five to eight firefighters, the average being about six. “We might be lucky and get eight, but the number of responders is an unknown,” he said. Other communities such as Guilford, which has a paid (career) staff as well as volunteers, are also experiencing a dip in their number of volunteers. One Guilford firefighter noted that the number of volunteers has been decreasing due to commitment and hours it takes to be a volunteer firefighter these days. Manware, who is also the department’s photographer, said that when the fire call goes out, many volunteers go directly from their work or business to the scene. That can leave the department short on people available to get the apparatus out and to the fire’s location. Mutual aid from towns such as Madison and Westbrook is available if the situation warrants, said Manware. The problem during the day, said Manware, is that many volunteers work too far from Clinton. At night, or on weekends, the number of volunteers increases since most volunteers are back home. Not only are fewer folks available during the weekday, but the department’s numbers overall are down. The reason people leave the department varies, said Manware. “Some people just aren’t cut out for the fire department,” he said. “They have a hard time managing the stress or the situations they encounter, or they get burned-out.” Many find the hours too demanding to juggle with family or career commitments. “For an example, we just had a whole weekend devoted to training in extraction,” said Manware. The training was conducted by the Connecticut Fire Academy. Others move out of Clinton, or change jobs thus taking them too far away from the town during the day. Manware said he and others are focusing their recruitment efforts on former volunteers who may have left the department but are still in town. “Their situations may have changed–the kids may be grown or their job has changed,” said Manware. “The best scenario is to bring experienced people back into the department as well as keep the ones we have now.” Manware noted that the incentives for joining the CVFD include the gratifying sense of helping your community, the excitement of the job, the camaraderie of the being part of the club, and extras such as the holiday party, block parties, and kids’ events designed for the whole family. There is an annual banquet with awards for recognition for outstanding service, said Manware. One other incentive is a $1,000 tax abatement program for qualified individuals. The firefighters also hope to enact a pension plan. If interested in joining the CVFD, call 669-8131 or drop by the headquarters at 35 East Main Street for an application. No experience is necessary. Profile of the CVFD Established in 1909 Two facilities: 35 East Main Street (headquarters) and 141 Glenwood Road Members: 100 Regular; 13 Auxiliary; 11 Support; 102 Honorary Apparatus and Equipment: 7 Fire and Rescue; 4 Medical; 2 Boats; 1 Utility and 1 Hazardous Material Emergency Calls in 2006: 1,359 Emergency Calls in 2007: 1,447 Types of Coverage: 24/7 for fires, motor vehicle accidents, medical, hazardous materials, fire alarms, carbon monoxide, smoke alarms, and water rescues. Area of Coverage: Residences, businesses, four miles of Interstate 95, all town roads, marinas, beach, inhabited island (Cedar Island), Long Island Sound, railroad tracks.