Volunteers vital to fire department

The Pea Ridge Fire Department is committed to protecting the people and property within our community.

We will be responsive to the needs of our citizens by providing rapid, professional, humanitarian, services essential to the health, safety, and well-being of the community. We will accomplish our mission through prevention, education, fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical services, and other related activities. We will actively participate in our community, serve as role models, and strive to effectively and efficiently utilize all of the necessary resources at our command to provide a product deemed excellent by our citizens.

This is the Pea Ridge Fire Department’s mission statement.

First, I would like to thank the citizens of this great town for the continued support of the Fire Department. Our fire department would not be where it is today without the continued support and generosity of you, the citizens of Pea Ridge. Having the community’s support is paramount to the success of a volunteer fire department.

Yes, that is right, the Pea Ridge Fire Department is a 100% volunteer fire department.

Many people, especially if they are new to the area, drive by the fire house and see multiple vehicles in the parking lot, and assume that the fire department is a paid or a combination department (paid and volunteer).

The Pea Ridge Fire Department does run an Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance that has paid members. These members, however, are not city employees, but are EMTs and Paramedics who, for the most part, work for other municipal fire departments or ambulance services, and are working for the Pea Ridge Fire Department/ Ambulance service as a part time job.

The firefighters, though, are strictly volunteer. With the growth of our city, it is imperative that our department move toward becoming a full time department.

It is the goal of Pea Ridge Fire Department to add full time personnel in the near future to provide for the needs of our growing city. This is another area that our department will need the community’s support.

The Pea Ridge Fire Department has a great group of EMTs, Paramedics and volunteer firefighters who are here to help whenever needed. If you have ever thought about becoming a firefighter, we are offering the opportunity to see how you can become one. Our training nights are the second and fourth Monday at 6 p.m. Just stop in, and we will show you what it takes to become a firefighter.

Thank you for your support!

CHIEF JACK WASSMAN