The Lovettsville Volunteer Fire Department

“Every so often, in the midst of chaos, you come across an amazing, inexplicable instance of civic responsibility. Maybe the last shred of faith people have is in their firemen.” ― Kurt Vonnegut

The Lovettsville Volunteer Fire & Rescue was formed in April 1967 and the organization incorporated as the Lovettsville District Fire and Rescue Company, Inc. Originally an all-volunteer company, volunteers staff the station weekdays from 6 pm to 6 am, and all weekend. Loudoun County provides professional firemen during weekdays.

Take the “fire” out of the fire department, and local volunteers would still be donning their turnout gear. Our rural fire departments get emergency calls for everything from traffic control at car accident scenes to medical emergencies to clearing downed power lines and trees, water rescues and lost children.

I trained and served on a rural VFD a few decades ago and can tell you that being a fireman in your community is the ultimate form of helping your neighbors and making a difference. I’ve watched volunteer EMT’s revive a heart attack victim and seen an exhausted volunteer firemen walk out of the woods after an all-night search carrying a lost 3-year-old. These type stories occur every day all across the country.

Being a volunteer firefighter has its rewards, but it also requires courage, dedication and many hours of training. In a typical year, more than 100 firefighters are killed in the line of duty, and more than 5,000 are injured, according to federal statistics.

Despite the inherent risks of firefighting and the time it often takes away from one’s job and family, there are those among us here in Lovettsville who feel called to volunteer for this noble undertaking, which saves countless lives and spares countless homes and businesses from destruction each year.

The personal rewards and satisfaction received from the volunteer emergency services are often beyond description. There is a sense of accomplishment after controlling a building fire, joy, and delight when a child is born, and compassion for accident victims.

The LVFR spends a tremendous amount of time and effort training their volunteers; there was ambulance driver training going on the evening I visited. They never ask for anything in return. They don’t do it for the glory or recognition, awards, applause or getting to wear a uniform. They simply want to help in a way they have been trained to. This is volunteerism at its best.

While everyone at the station has their own personal motivations for being a part of the LVFR, there seems to be a bigger calling. Beyond personal fulfillment, volunteers at the station genuinely like to help people in need.

A man or woman, volunteering for a fire or medical service will answer calls for assistance today and tomorrow, day and night. Lovettsville is not exempt. There are probably a few volunteers on your street. Ask them, and there is not a hero among them. But the rest of us know better.

Find the time to be a volunteer. If you cannot, dig deep when fundraisers come around. It’s up to us to be the answer to someone’s prayer when they dial 911. If you can save one life, won’t it be worth it?

NEXT WEEK: Local Shops You Should Be Supporting!