In November of 2016, my wife Derilynn and I were attending an event called the Paradise Valley Fireman’s Ball. It was an annual fundraiser that was started to benefit the local all-volunteer fire department.

When you entered the ball, there were applications lying on a table asking for volunteers. I took one, shrugged, and filled it out. Didn’t give it much thought as I went home that night. About a week later, at the age of 58, I became a volunteer firefighter.

Less than two years after that, the department received a grant to conduct training for Emergency Medical Technicians. Aside from a high school job changing bedpans at a hospital in suburban Chicago, I had absolutely no background in medicine. Still, I was intrigued. I took the six-month course, and in March of 2018, I became a licensed EMT.

What an honor and a privilege it has been.

I quickly learned some interesting facts. Almost 84 percent of Montana’s fire departments are completely volunteer. Another 10 percent are mostly volunteer. Approximately 8,000 volunteers stand ready to protect the Montana’s 45 million acres.

For those who haven’t been to Montana, we are the fourth largest state in the country. Billings is our largest city, with 117,000 residents. There are 1 million people in the entire state. A handful of places qualify as “cities,” but mostly we are dotted with small towns surrounded by rural landscape. If you have a fire or medical emergency, it is going to be a while before a municipal department comes your way. That is where volunteers come in.

I am blessed to serve with tremendous brothers and sisters on the Paradise Valley Fire Department. We have about 25 active firefighters, 14 of whom are EMTs. We have several members with day jobs, many retired firefighters and law enforcement officers, as well as retired businessmen. We are on call 24/7, ready to respond if available. (Ironically, I needed to step away from this blog entry because I received a page. It turned out to be a cancellation, so I’m back!)

Our department was formally established in 1991. We receive a relatively small levy from our tax base and occasional government grants, but we have been able to grow through generous donations from our community. Our equipment continues to improve. There is an emphasis on training, which we do every Wednesday night, year-round. If you visited our station, you wouldn’t know we were strictly volunteer. Our goal is to provide a professional level of service.

Department members protect each other like family, and we proudly serve our neighbors. We respond to structures fires, medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents and extrications, and wildland fires and mutual aid incidents. In many cases, you may encounter someone who is a friend or neighbor experiencing one of the worst days of their lives. To provide assistance, and perhaps a little comfort, is a great reward in itself.

Our Paradise Valley community couldn’t be more supportive. In addition to monetary donations, residents are always ready to say “Thank you” and offer a pat on the back. On occasions when I’m wearing my department ball cap, someone might randomly thank me for my service.

A paycheck can’t match the feeling that comes with that.