VOLGA, S.D. (KELO) — Not only has a fire destroyed a business in downtown Brookings, but it’s also highlighted a growing fear for volunteer fire departments in many rural communities.
Volunteers with the Volga Fire Department were some of the first to respond to Monday’s business fire in Brookings. After several hours on scene, it wasn’t hard for fire crews to notice the pressing need for more volunteers.
“It was partway through as we were filtering guys in and out, going inside the structure to get to hotspots, and you’re just kind of looking around. Everybody was kind of spent, and we just didn’t have a lot of resources there. I mean, we had the resources, but it was just a matter of going in and out and getting the proper rest,” Volga Fire Chief Jamie Russell said.
The Volga Fire Department currently has 25 volunteers, three short of a full roster. While it may not seem like a big deal, Chief Russell said when a few volunteers are unavailable, responding to emergencies becomes challenging. While battling the flames on Monday, they received a call for help from their own town.
“Thankfully, we still had people that were in town and we had enough of a crew to be able to go and help that person,” Volga firefighter Liz Oakley said. “But that’s definitely a fear that all of us have in our minds is, okay, if we’re helping somebody else out, is there going to be somebody in our town to help if something were to go wrong?”
Chief Russell said one reason people may hesitate to volunteer is the concern about time commitment. However, sometimes volunteering can be as simple as having an extra person to drive a truck.
“It’s hard to keep the operations going because you don’t want to overwork people and risk injury to them either,” Chief Russell said.
While volunteers in Volga are grateful for the support they’ve received, the number one thing they’re asking for is more people to step up and serve.
“The meals are great. The snacks are great,” Oakley said. “I know there is a number of community members that just praise the community that they’re in. They’re so proud to be in this area, in this community. If you’re that proud, step up and help us volunteer. We really need it. We are on our last legs of people. Pretty soon there is going to be nobody. It’s that dire of a situation.”
Today, all that remains of what used to be a landmark business in downtown Brookings is a pile of ash and rubble. While first responders from several local communities managed Monday’s situation well, more volunteers across all stations could make an even bigger difference in future emergencies.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities, email [email protected] or stop by their office located at 226 Kasan Ave. in Volga.
The exact cause of Monday’s fire remains under investigation according to the City of Brookings Government’s Facebook post on Friday.
