All-Volunteer Firefighters Get The Job Done

“We are an all-volunteer fire department,” Goodman Fire Chief, Keith Estes, said, “there are currently 19 volunteer firefighters.” A five-member board manages the department, the Goodman Area Fire Protection District.

Estes said the majority of calls received are medical. “This past year, there were a couple of structure fires. Last February, due to the extremely dry weather, there were several brush fires covering hundreds of acres.

“This past year we had two calls for flooding victims who were rescued.”

“For big fires, we have numerous trucks available, Estes said, since we have mutual agreements with fire departments in other towns in McDonald County as well as in Newton County.

“We have a medical director as first responder,” Estes said. ‘There are five licensed EMTs at the Goodman Fire Department and their supervision is under the medical director who is required to be a licensed physician,” Estes said.

The Goodman fire department is a tax-based fire district. “We have been able to maintain equipment and make additions,” Estes said, “at times, we also get grants.”

A recent grant enabled the department to purchase some hoses.The Goodman Area Fire Protection District received a $3000 matching grant check from the Missouri Department of Conservation. We bought 3500 feet of new 1-3/4” attack hose with the grant.

“This will help serve our community with a higher water volume on fires,” Estes said. “We Appreciate the fine work the Conservation Department has done to benefit rural fire departments.”

The Goodman fire department interacts with the community such as the recent Appreciation Day at the fire station where Goodman residents were treated to pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, beans, chips and soft drinks. Firemen from the Goodman Area Fire Protection District spent all day smoking & pulling pork and preparing other food for the event.

The department also conducts fire prevention programs at the Goodman elementary school.

Estes said the department is very close to being ready to open the new 40’x60’ fire station at Split Log in Goodman, which they hope will be completed by Spring of next year. The Split Log Baptist Church in the area donated the property for the station.

“Training is updated as needed for the department,” Estes said.