Times-Journal City Editor

Everyday, volunteers in the area help deliver food, care for the sick, sit with the elderly, hold blood drives and fundraisers and pitch in wherever possible.

It’s a good chance, however, that most of them don’t sit around and wait for a chance to run into a burning building.

The Valley Grande Volunteer Fire Department’s members do.

“It’s not a hard job,” Don Carter, firefighter with the VFD said, “but a lot of people don’t like to go into house fires.”

The Valley Grande VFD has been saving lives and fighting fires since 1979.

While the members are expected to be on call 24 hours a day, most people don’t realize how crucial the services they provide are.

The VFD clears roads whenever necessary, provides assistance and extraction services at automobile accidents and performs first aid until an ambulance can transport them to a hospital.

“Just to help the neighborhood,” Carter said, “because you sure don’t get any pay out of it.”

Carter and the other firefighters are essentially the first line of defense for area homes. All of it’s done just out of the kindness of their hearts.

“It’s just an effort by everybody to keep it all going,” he said.

The VFD has 19 members, and everyone helps wherever possible. Two of the members are rated firefighters, Carter said. They keep the books most of the time. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Carter explained there wasn’t much to keep.

“A little bit of mileage tax comes through the county,” he said. “Other than that is donations, fundraisers.”

The VFD just recently completed a Boston Butts sale and is now in the midst of a photograph sale.

Individuals can buy coupons for a photo package from VFD members. They can be redeemed at a later date at the Fire House for a photography package for coupon holders.

Carter said it was important that everyone gets involved.

“If you don’t have the community backing, you’re fighting a losing battle,” he said.

Soon, Carter said, the VFD would have a whole new station, sponsored by the Valley Grande City Council.

Still, despite the problems, Carter couldn’t imagine himself or the others doing anything but helping their community.

“I’ve been in it since 1979,” he said. “It’s just pure dedication.”

For more information, or to donate, call Carter at 875-1580.