Large Crew Of Volunteers Help Fight Fires, Provide Medical Call Assistance
A trained crew of 20 volunteers, led by Pineville Fire Chief Gregg Sweeten and Assistant Chief Robert Drake, protects the residents of Pineville and the surrounding area with fire protection and medical assistance.
Several members also are trained as first responders and some are certified as emergency medical technicians and paramedics, Sweeten said.
“These volunteers run calls involving a vast array of calls including medical, both wildland and structural fires, vehicle crashes and trees in the roadway,” Sweeten said.
The Pineville Fire District encompasses part of I-49 and U.S. Highway 71, as well as Highway H and Highway 76.
“These roads count for the largest part of calls involving vehicle crashes,” he said.
Pineville Rural Fire Department is a membership-supported fire department that also derives operational funds from various fundraisers.
The largest fundraiser for the Fire Department is the annual Jesse James Days, held in August each year on the Pineville Square.
“The funds raised from this event go to the Fire Department to pay for equipment, education materials and make a yearly payment on the last new pumper truck that was purchased,” Sweeten said.
Funds also are raised from an annual pancake feed in the spring. The pancake feed next year will be at the Pineville Community Center.
With the newest addition of a pumper truck, the department’s fleet now includes three pumper trucks, two tanker trucks, two rescue trucks and three brush trucks.
Pineville Rural Fire Department contracts for fire protection with the city of Pineville and then covers the surrounding areas outside Pineville.
The department also assists surrounding departments with mutual aid calls, Sweeten said.