Volunteer Firefighters: Saving Money, Saving Lives

“Even if this becomes routine to you, the people you see on a call may be having the worst day of their lives. You may forget it but they won’t.”

Those words, spoken by an officer, stuck with me: Be professional because this is someone’s emergency. You’re their last resort.

With any luck you’ve only seen us buzzing by – lights whirling, sirens shrieking, going “somewhere” – perhaps privately wishing that the person is okay. But chances are you know someone who has needed our services.

There’s an even greater chance that a piece of life-saving equipment like an automated external defibrillator (AED) was purchased from our town-allotted budget or a private donation.

The Key Players

To understand how money in our area is allocated for fire protection, it’s first important to know how we’re structured.

The Haddam Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. (HVFD) is an organization independent of the Town of Haddam, established to serve as an administrative/budget liaison between the town and the town’s two fire companies: The Haddam Volunteer Fire Company (HVFC) and the Haddam Neck Volunteer Fire Department (HNVFD).

“Basically we oversee the two fire companies on behalf of the town,” said Fire Department President Scott Larson. “We’re responsible for future planning, need assessment and making sure allocated funds are spent properly.”

The HVFD’s Board of Directors is made up of fire chiefs from both sides of the river, a member of each fire company, the president, treasurer and secretary. The board reviews budget and capital requests from individual fire companies and submits a unified budget proposal to the town’s Board of Selectmen. Once approved, the Fire Department’s treasurer and town of Haddam’s finance director work together to supervise spending.

The fire companies identify equipment needs and vendors, and the town pays the bills directly. For a small number of purchases, the fire companies buy directly and seek reimbursement. As such, everything purchased is town property.

The basic operating budget pays for things like fuel, electricity, apparatus maintenance and training for the fire companies’ combined 80 or so members.

Haddam maintains 11 emergency motor vehicles – everything from pickup trucks to a 2,700-gallon water tanker – two rescue boats, a Gator All-Terrain Vehicle and four trailers. Haddam Neck has an Engine, Tanker, Light Rescue Truck, Jeep refitted for brush fires, brush truck and ATV.

Annual funding supports fire protection and medical services (the HVFC and HNVFD hold “R1” licenses from the State of Connecticut making them the town’s primary first responder for medical emergencies). These services – typically more than 600 calls per year – extend to 8,400 residents. The relatively large 46-square mile coverage area includes nine miles of the Connecticut River and busy stretch of Route 9.

Non-Taxpayer Funds

Additional funding is sought from sources outside the normal tax base.

One such purchase were Epi-Pens – emergency doses of epinephrine acquired in partnership with the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary and now carried on apparatus at each of Haddam’s three stations.

Epi-Pens help reverse the effects of anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Last August, Haddam Fire EMTs injected a woman with epinephrine, likely saving her life. A swollen tongue from a bee sting had blocked her airway.

“I think most people would agree that if something saves even one life, it’s worth the investment,” said Haddam Fire Chief Sam Baber.

The companies also continually pursue grants. Past grants include Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Forestry grants and numerous Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants. Haddam’s CAR-13, Gator ATV and Trailer, and Haddam Neck’s Polaris ATV were all purchased through CT Homeland Security Administration grants.

In 2003 and 2004, FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grants were awarded to the HVFC, money used towards Rapid Intervention (RIT) training open to all Middlesex County departments, as well as a new radio system and new radios for all apparatus.

Fundraising events further offset the burden to taxpayers.

In Haddam, these include a Memorial Day Chowder sale and Children’s Christmas Party, both involving the Auxiliary. The Fire Company has funded the construction of a Firefighter Training Center almost entirely on its own. Members also take part in community outreach events like Touch-A-Truck, standby for the Durham Fair and Relay for Life, and Fire Prevention Week, in addition to fundraising for charities like the American Cancer Society.

In Haddam Neck, the department hosts a popular St. Patrick’s Day corned beef dinner to raise funds for special equipment and operates the successful Sausage 1 food concession at the annual Haddam Neck Fair, an event the company also provides first aid and fire protection coverage. In addition, the department hosts a Children’s Christmas Party with the Auxiliary’s help and supports other community events.

Public donations, meanwhile, are often earmarked to buy items on our “wish lists” not covered by our budget, like an AED.

The Town Budget

Finally we get to the elephant in the room: the annual budget.

So how does the HVFD’s budget compare to other towns? Let’s take a look.

Cost comparisons are complicated by factors like demographics, population size, call numbers and services (e.g., fire only or both fire and emergency medical). However, it’s still possible to get an idea of where we stand.

The following information is taken from a 2004 analysis conducted by the Connecticut General Assembly.

Wethersfield operates a volunteer fire department with 105 firefighters. Volunteers are not paid a salary or stipend but are eligible for an annual property tax exemption of up to $1,000 and a service award of up to $500 per year. The department, which responds to 450 service calls a year – fewer than Haddam – and does not provide EMS services, had a 2004-2005 budget of approximately $300,000.

East Haven operates a combination fire department – 45 active volunteers, 40 career firefighters and 13 other employees (shift commanders, dispatchers and administrative staff). Volunteers are not paid a salary, but eligible volunteers receive $25,000 life insurance coverage and a property tax abatement of up to $1,000. Its 2004-2005 budget was in excess of $4 million.

Fast forward to 2012-2013. According to public records, Wethersfield Fire’s budget ballooned to $680,000 while East Haven’s budget topped out at approximately $5.7 million.

Compare that to Haddam Volunteer Fire Department’s 2004-2005 budget of $223,332 and 2012-2013 budget of $324,843. Remember, that covers fire protection in two towns, and neither fire company pays its members a salary or stipend.

Subtract all the money received from non-town sources …
Suddenly you realize we’re a heck of a bargain!

“Where does the money go?” To maintain two top-notch volunteer fire companies.

In his People of the Town Offices series, Haddam Bulletin contributor Alan Aronow wrote, “Volunteer members come from all walks of life but share one common interest – a strong willingness to serve the community. To become qualified also takes brains, brawn and courage.”

Just ask the many residents who might not be alive today were it not for properly trained and equipped first responders.

“Prudently managing our budgets is important but saving lives and homes is priceless,” said Haddam Neck Chief Robert McGarry.


Do You Have What It Takes? Find more information on the activities of the HVFC and HNVFD at our websites www.haddamfire.com and http://www.hnvfd.com.