It’s 12:30 AM in our beloved town of Woodbury. It’s also very cold and most of the town is snugly asleep in anticipation of the next day. Kids to get ready for school and adults off to work. The cold and the silent gray smoke from the chimneys exaggerate the quiet serenity of Main Street.

But on one side of town something is very wrong. While a family with small children is sleeping the deadly enemy of fire has invaded their home. The parents have thankfully purchased and installed battery powered smoke alarms and is awakened to the shrill sounds of the detectors and the house thick with black smoke, so thick as to hardly be able to see. With the unique fear that grips a parent worried about their children in mortal danger they awaken their children and escape.

Thankfully everyone is out and alive. But looking back at their beloved home, thick black smoke billows from every window. Both parents and children are thankful to be alive but petrified at the loss they are facing, their precious home!

In an instant the 911 dispatcher sends out a discrete signal to 40 households in town. Without the knowledge of most of the 9600 residents sleeping, this unique signal breaks the silence of 40 pagers inside these households with a shrill tone followed by the message that one of our fellow townspeople needs help.

In a matter of seconds the race to the firehouse begins in cars and trucks. With pagers in hand the sound of the department leadership signing onto service can be heard. From inside the firehouse, lights on, trucks starting, comes a sight that is hard to explain. A sea of blue appears. Blue flashing lights, some strobe lights, some steady, approach and descend on the emergency service building. Mixed in the with adrenaline pumping through veins is a different emotion, pride, camaraderie, and a knowledge that this sea of blue lights on cars and truck approaching are filled with people with a very special talent and training. These are not full time paid firefighters. These are people with full time jobs outside the firehouse, men and women with very understanding wives and husbands, from every walk of life. Business owners, tradesmen, service people, office workers, and more. All with the common thread of Volunteer Firefighter, are racing to help.

Minutes later the trucks arrive at the scene and the fire is knocked down, the house saved. There is much smoke damage. But the house is still there. The work is not over for the volunteers, for who knows when another emergency will take place. All the equipment used must be immediately put back into service. So when the men and women arrive back at headquarters, much has to be done. Special air tanks that sustained breathing for firefighters inside the smoke filled building must be refilled. Hoses need to be cleaned and repacked. So much other equipment to be cleaned and put away! But not to worry, for the men and women, many of them third generation firefighters, ignore that it’s now 3:30 AM. They get right to work.

But you have to see it to understand. There is not a wasted movement, while these volunteers get themselves and their equipment ready for the next emergency. Getting ready to go home now and the sky is getting bright. Many of the volunteers don’t go to sleep, for they must now get ready for work.

The little children so rudely awakened by an uninvited guest will sleep once again in their beds. Safe.

C. Shaker