PREPAREDNESS: AREA COMMUNITIES TAKE ACTION

Volunteer fire departments are a way of life in rural areas of the United States.

While larger cities have paid departments, more than 1 million firefighters and 25,000 volunteer fire districts make up more than three-fourths of all U.S. firefighters, extending protection to as much a 75 percent of the nation's geographic area.

Many volunteer districts today have the advantage of a tax base, which provides money for much of the equipment and its upkeep. But the old pumper truck or tanker was probably purchased with money from local bakes sales, carwashes and barbecues.

Volunteer fire departments make up a big share of firefighters and equipment in Cape Girardeau County, which has seven districts, 11 stations and 171 volunteers. Rounding out the county's firemen are the Jackson and Cape Girardeau paid fire departments, which have a combined total of five stations and more than 75 firefighters.

There are a number of volunteer districts throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. They include the Whitewater Volunteer Fire District, which has two stations and seven vehicles and may get a third station at Allenville, and the Horseshoe Lake Branch Volunteer Fire Department at Olive Branch, Ill., which recently acquired two additional vehicles.

The Horseshoe Lake department may not need a big-city fire ladder truck. "But we have one," said Chapen Tatum, a department vice president and public-affairs officer. "We got it at a bargain."

The 1971 model ladder truck has a reach of 180 feet and looks out of place in front of the small community's firehouse.

"But it can be used in a regular fire," said Tatum.

The ladder truck was acquired from a letter-writing campaign that sought new vehicles to replace older trucks at the Olive Branch department. The massive truck was almost a gift from Hanover Park, an area in Chicago.

The department also has a new pumper truck.

"It's not new by any means," said Tatum. "But the 1969 International pumper is new to us, and it works and runs well."

The department recently had to retire two vehicles: a 1978 pumper and a 1957 fire truck.

The new equipment gives the department of about 20 volunteers two pumpers, two tankers and a pick-up truck, said John Bruer, the fire chief.

The department acquired its two latest vehicles the same way most community fire departments get equipment, buildings and equipment: through donations.

"These truck didn't cost us much money." said Tatum.

The department's firehouse, which was completed in 1996, also received funds from a generous community over a three-year period from 1993 through 1996.

The sixth-grade class at a local school conducted a soda sale, the fire department held barbecues, and people dropped a penny here and a dime or quarter there to build up a fund for the new department building.

"We received donations small and large, from nickels and quarters to 50 cents to $600," said Tatum. "When we started this building campaign we needed $25,000 and lots of volunteer builders." The building, 40 by 80 feet, eventually became a reality.

That project, said Tatum, was realized from hard work and money contributions. A lot of the volunteer firemen and their families have helped in the construction. All labor was donated."

The new building became necessary when a building the fire department formerly occupied was sold.

The Horseshoe Lake Branch District was founded more than 12 years ago and now answers 25 to 35 fire calls a year.

The volunteers all have two-way radios. When a call is received, it goes out on their radios.

"We usually always have six to eight respondents to any call," said Tatum.

The department has answered house fire calls, auto fire calls and a number of grass fires during the recent year.

"We have to have a heated building to keep the pumper trucks in," said Tatum. Otherwise the pumps could freeze, and cold and moisture could damage the fire hose.

The Horseshoe Lake Fire District includes a number of communities in the area: Olive Branch, Miller City, Cache, Hodges Park and Unity. The district receives some tax money -- about $6,500 a year -- and grant money, but the revenue goes to everyday expenses such as for insurance, equipment upgrades, repairs and fuel.

The equipment list includes air fans, generators, axes, rakes, boots and uniforms. It costs about $800 to outfit a firefighter.

Most of the department volunteers attend fire training classes at their own expense.

The new building is getting a concrete apron The department received a special grant from Southern Foundation for the concrete work.

With the increased equipment and efficiency in fire response, the community's insurance fire rating has improved, resulting in a 15 to 20 percent insurance savings to homeowners.