Volunteer Praise
Not enough can be said for the value volunteer firefighters provide. But on a small island in the West Indies, the spirit of volunteerism is perhaps more intense than what we are used to in America.
I‘m currently on Providenciales, one of the Turks and Caicos Islands. These islands, about 90 minutes by air from Miami, technically fall under British rule, although for all practical purposes they are independently run. I‘m here at the invitation of former chief Chris Gannon who established the islands‘ first fire service. In FIRE CHIEF‘s August issue, you‘ll read his amazing story.
On my first night, the chief and I had planned to meet for dinner. He phoned to ask if I wouldn‘t mind a change of plans. The department‘s volunteers had just completed a vehicle-extrication course and were celebrating over dinner; we were invited. We sat outside under a cabana among a group of 25 or so volunteers at Horse Eyed Jack‘s, where the menu was heavily weighted with conch and jerk dishes. We eat, drink and make merry. It is a scene much like those I‘ve experienced with volunteers stateside.
The volunteers are mixture of men and women and are largely ex-pats, hailing from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. The way the Turks and Caicos Fire and Rescue Service is set up, full-time career firefighters work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The volunteers cover everything that happens outside of those hours. Despite Gannon‘s intentions and efforts, this is still a very dangerous place to be a firefighter.
One of those I meet is Robert Pearce, a retired training officer from the British Fire Brigade. He came to TCI to lead Gannon‘s training efforts. Pearce says the volunteers out pace their career counterparts in their hard work, desire to learn and commitment. That‘s a group, Pearce says, he knows he can count on.
That level of commitment is remarkable, though by fire industry standards, not extraordinary. What is extraordinary is that none of these volunteers are paid — not for travel, gear, the time they spend on scene, nothing. What‘s more, they must buy their own medical insurance. Part of this is due to the lack of money the government gives the fire service and part is due to regulations prohibiting the ex-pats from accepting income from more than one declared profession.
Many of the volunteers, Gannon says, earn decent livings by island standards. Nonetheless, aside from the risk, there is a distinct financial burden that Turks and Caicos volunteers subject themselves to that is uncommon in America. Their level of giving takes the profession‘s admirable qualities to a higher level.
At the volunteer‘s gathering, Pearce and another retired U.K. training expert are awarded drinking mugs made from conch shells with a token of the group‘s appreciation for the extrication program inscribed on the outside. The banquet, the course, and even the conch mugs were paid by fund-raising efforts the volunteers conducted. In the end, they even insisted on picking up the tab for the former chief and his American editor guest.
These volunteers put forth a Herculean effort for the love of the job, and the praise for them and those of their ilk, bears repeating.
Related Topics: Rick Markley, Leadership
June 20th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Does anyone know an insurer who will provide “on the job” health and life insurance for a voluteer department in the Turks & Caicos Islands?
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