By Brian Livingston / staff writer
Pancakes will again be on the menu, this time at the firehouse of the Northeast Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, beginning bright and early Saturday morning.
The fundraiser, the biggest the department conducts on an annual basis, will hopefully raise money to help maintain the current equipment plus add some new items sorely needed. Mike Marlow, the chief of the department, said the pancakes will begin coming off the griddles at 6 a.m. with the flipping continuing until 11 a.m. There is no set price for the pancakes plates said Marlow.
"We will be working off donations only," said Marlow. "If it is one cent, one dollar or a thousand dollars, we'll accept it."
In fact, Marlow laughed when he relayed the story of how the department was able to save one man's home which results each year in a one thousand dollar donation.
"There was a grass fire threatening his home and we were able to keep the fire off his property," said Marlow. "Ever since then he has been most appreciative and we, in turn, have appreciated his generosity."
Volunteer fire departments receive a small fire rebate check from the Mississippi State Insurance Commissioner's Office. The engines and trucks are also bought through the county as is the fuel and insurance. Volunteer departments also get donations through their community water associations as residents contribute money through their water bills. But despite all this volunteer fire departments, which are self-containing, non-profit organizations whose sole purpose is to protect the residents and their property, still have enormous costs.
As Marlow pointed out, to fully outfit one firefighter in full turnout gear and a self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) costs upwards of $7,000. That is not including the cost of training and replacing worn out equipment.
"We won't put a firefighter on the line unless he is as safe as he can possibly be," said Marlow. "It isn't worth risking his or her life."
And that is why fundraisers of this type are so important. Volunteer fire departments rely on a large number of firefighters because there is no guarantee how many will be able to respond to a specific call.
"We certainly hope the people we serve will realize what these men and women do for them," Marlow said. "Volunteer firefighters don't get paid so it is important to have continued support through fundraisers, donations and so forth."
