Goodman Makes Inroads With New, Repaired Fire Trucks
Finding volunteers to put their lives on the line for their community is tough work. Goodman Fire Chief Keith Estes told his team they all had to work together to recruit and retain qualified people willing to sweat and serve.
“It takes all of us,” he told the volunteers who were gathered in a circle in the main firehouse. “Not just me, every one of us.”
The all-volunteer department, like many in McDonald County, draws its help from residents who undergo training. They are the first responders for fire and medical calls, almost 300 a year. Eighty-percent of the calls are medical, Estes said.
Recruiting and retaining volunteers is a challenge, Estes said. People are busy with raising families and work.
Still, the need to help fellow neighbors never goes away.
The department fights brush fires, saves people’s homes, assists during accidents, responds to medical emergencies and more.
The Goodman Area Fire Protection District was established in 2005 by the vote of Goodman residents. The city of Goodman previously had operated a fire department for years, but officials believed the establishment and operation of a fire district would be more economically feasible. With the change, the city gave firefighting equipment to the district.
Today, the department operates with funds from income taxes and covers 96 square miles, with the help of dedicated volunteers.
The department is still making inroads for improvement after a tornado dealt the department a devastating blow. The April 2017 tornado destroyed two fire stations located across from each other. Several fire trucks also were damaged.
Insurance money — a settlement from the tornadic destruction — and reserve funds helped pay for a new 8,400-square-foot station, complete with two buildings, room for all the fire engines, equipment, meeting rooms, office and restrooms, Estes said.
No tax increases were put into place for the $305,000 facility, property and utilities, he added.
The department moved into the fire station on East Russell last summer.
This year, officials have been able to address damaged equipment.
“It has been a slow process, but now all trucks that were out of service due to the tornado are in service,” Estes said.
“We also replaced a brush truck that was broken down with a truck that was received from the Missouri Department of Conservation.”
Up-to-date training continues. So many technological changes and different fabrics challenge firefighters, Estes explained.
Results from scientific studies show that contaminants have to be more properly contained. Training guidelines are ever-changing to accommodate those findings, he said. Firetruck seat covers are required to be made of a certain material, which is less flammable. Gear must be washed after every fire and contained in a bag, not brought back to a firefighter’s home to wash.
New rulings are distributed and firefighters follow those, he said.
Longtime volunteers Bud and Dianna Richmond, ages 78 and 74, respectively, have served as volunteers for almost 42 years. In a time when volunteers are hard to recruit and retain, the Richmonds have faithfully served for decades.
Their two sons have served in the department, and now their granddaughter volunteers.
The Richmonds don’t necessarily drive the fire truck in the dead of night but continue to show up, share their knowledge with new recruits and try to find more volunteers.
The call to help the community is a strong one for them.
“We’re here for whatever they need,” Dianna said.