Gamaliel VFD works for the good of the community
Posted: July 23rd, 2006 :: 101 Gamaliel Fire Protection District (Station 86) (Station 86 Rescue)
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| Members:1st Row-Chief Rob Griffith. 2nd Row-Shelly Shetrompf,Dee Marks,Tom Law,John Sandell. 3rd Row-Ed Toscano, Bob May,Carl Farris,Tom Marks Sr.,Asst Chief Tom Wolf,LT. Dennis Boschma,Asst Chief John Marks. 4th Row-Eric Wolf,Randy Perkins,Tim Partin,Larry Jones,David Stutts,LT Mike Shetrompf,Mark Smith,Casey Dison,LT. Bob Rodgers. |
In his 25 years with the Gamaliel Fire Department Rob Griffith has fought house fires, worked numerous wrecks and been called to other emergency situations.
But the moment he remembers most is being called to remove a cat from a tree.
"Nobody's ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree," Griffith said with a chuckle. "The cat always finds a way to get down. But people still want you to come."
Griffith has served as the Gamaliel Fire Department fire chief for 10 years. Currently, he has 29 volunteer firefighters who serve the department. No one with the department is paid for their services, Griffith said.
"Everybody just works for the good of our community," he said. The Gamaliel Fire Department covers the 101 Gamaliel expanded Fire Protection District. It was established as a fire district in the late 1970s, but the area had a fire department in the early 1960s, Griffith said.
Griffith said the volunteers are divided into three response teams. The first team responds to fires, the second team handles EMS' calls and the third team serves as a water shuttle for the firefighters. He said water from Norfork Lake is often used to put out fires.
Despite not having fire hydrants within the district, Griffith said his department has been able to maintain an ISO rating of 6.
One of the most dangerous calls Griffith worked was a gasoline tanker wreck. He said if the fire had not been contained, the truck might have exploded and many people could have been injured.
Each year the department responds to about 100 calls, and in recent years, the number of calls has grown substantially, Griffith said.
The Gamaliel Fire Department is funded by a 5 mill property tax assessed to residents within the district.
What happened to the cat?
By himself, Griffith climbed a ladder up to the feline and grabbed him. "He respond very well to me grabbing him," Griffith said. " He jumped out of my hands and onto the ground. He was all right."
The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Arkansas
Originally published July 17, 2006
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