Tragedy shows need for full-time fire services
The news about my neighbors in Sun Prairie has been heartbreaking: After contractors apparently broke a natural gas line, a massive explosion rocked the downtown and destroyed several buildings. It resulted in the death of a volunteer firefighter, Captain Cory Barr.
I send my sincere condolences to Barr’s family, coworkers, and all who knew him. I can only begin to imagine the enormous amount of shock and grief being experienced in the aftermath.
What we know is that Sun Prairie’s first responders, a largely volunteer firefighting force, are to be thanked for swiftly evacuating the area, likely saving the lives of hundreds of people. One death is one too many, but Barr and his fellow volunteers prevented this from becoming a much larger tragedy.
A GoFundMe set up to provide relief funds for Barr’s family has already exceeded its goal. It’s always heartening to see communities rally to support their members in times of need.
It shouldn’t take tragedy to remind us or bring into focus some of the larger issues that need addressing. Sun Prairie is one of the fastest growing communities in Dane County and still lacks 24/7 firefighter coverage, as the city grapples with budget constraints and debates over funding priorities.
Sun Prairie isn’t an anomaly. Communities large and small across the country often struggle to find enough money to staff and support emergency services. The Beloit Fire Department is facing massive shortages after retirements and the loss of a federal grant. Nationwide there’s a shortage of firefighters.
It’s crucial that we push for better federal and state funding, in addition to local support. The fortunes of individual communities will always change over time, but the whole point of government is to provide that baseline of assistance. Re-prioritizing how our tax dollars are raised and spent, how and where grants are structured and made available, and doing more to provide training and support have to be part of the effort to improve our most essential civic institutions.
Another piece of the puzzle absolutely must come from the fire departments themselves: Seven out of 10 firefighters nationally are volunteers, and the workforce is fast aging out. I read about the struggles to recruit and I can’t help but notice that the vast majority of those currently working in firehouses are white men. This isn’t to say those white men haven’t and don’t continue to do excellent work, just that, like almost every institution in the U.S., there’s a history of exclusion and even animosity toward people of different races, sexualities and genders that has to be addressed.
There are driven, qualified people out there who would make excellent firefighters, but it will take a cultural change in firehouses to attract them.
I bring this up because I want to see more financial and community support thrown behind this crucial service. I want us to find solutions that benefit everyone. Doing so will not only provide better safety for citizens, but also ensure we’re properly supporting the people who put their lives on the line to do the work — hopefully without requiring a tragedy to make us take notice.
Emily Mills is a freelance writer who lives in Madison. Twitter: @millbot; Email: emily.mills@outlook.com