On call at all hours

By Cindy Gladden, Record Staff Writer
Posted 10/3/17

The National Fire Protection Association reported in 2016 that nearly 69 percent of the nation’s firefighters are volunteers. Fire districts in Warren County have some paid personnel and also …

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On call at all hours

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The National Fire Protection Association reported in 2016 that nearly 69 percent of the nation’s firefighters are volunteers.Fire districts in Warren County have some paid personnel and also volunteers. In Marthasville, the crew is all volunteer.Since 1928, volunteers from all walks of life have protected Marthasville and southern Warren County as volunteer firefighters in any weather and at any time of day or night.The Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) provides service to 168 square miles of southern Warren County, including the towns and villages of Marthasville, Dutzow, Lake Sherwood, Treloar, Concord Hill, Holstein and as far as the Highway 47 bridge leading into Washington.Serving the department are more than 30 local men and women. At their day jobs, they work as carpenters, truck drivers, machinists, career EMTs and paramedics, farmers, handymen, engineers, landscapers and construction laborers.Some are retired and closely monitor their emergency pagers.“Once it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood forever,” said Fire Chief Jeff Backhaus. “It’s also a family tradition that gets carried on. There are several third generation firefighters in our department.”Backhaus said spouses bear a huge responsibility to keep things together at home when volunteers get called out.“We miss our kids’ school programs, get called out in the middle of a meal, or while getting ready to open Christmas presents,” he said. “The whole family forfeits for it.”Despite the sacrifices the firefighters make at home, Backhaus said the entire family is committed to their service to the community. Spouses work through the Auxiliary with fundraisers to benefit families affected by house fires or to raise money for needs of the department. Children patiently wait until they are old enough to spend time at the firehouse.“We have a passion to help other people,” he said. “The feeling you get when you help others keeps you doing it.”The MVFD is comprised of personnel of all ages and diverse backgrounds. Backhaus said camaraderie is strong and the rookies look to the older members as mentors.Wil Irwin joined the MVFD as a teenager. In the past eight years he has learned the ropes and has found his niche in the rescue department, with skills gained in extrication and a variety of rescue techniques.“Our goal is to get victims out as safely as possible,” said Irwin about auto accidents. “Traffic near the scene is one of the most dangerous things about our job.”Irwin said he also enjoys fire education, especially when the department visits schools during Fire Prevention Week every October. He says he is rewarded by the smiles he sees on the students’ faces.“We all get along,” he said about the department. “And we do our jobs.”Tyler Pruessner, 21, followed in his brothers’ footsteps when he joined six years ago.On his 16th birthday he asked his mom to sign papers allowing him to become a junior member, something he had been planning for a while.Pruessner said as a junior or a “young pup,” members run tools to other firefighters, respond on certain calls and observe the more experienced personnel.At 18, he was voted in as a full member by fellow firefighters.With a good deal of training under his belt, Pruessner has decided to make a career of it, joining the Boles Fire Department as a part-time reserve firefighter.“I have a big need to help my community,” he said. “I love the people that are in it and I want them to stay safe. We are a family, absolutely a family. I see these guys more than my actual family. I never see myself moving out of Marthasville.”Backhaus said the department is fortunate to have several career firefighters, EMTs and paramedics on their membership roll representing Cottleville, Metro West, Eureka, Boles, Antonia, Hermann and New Haven.“They have double the training, more experience,” he said. “It’s a benefit for our community to have that kind of person to serve with us for nothing.”Career firefighters are often available for daytime incidents since they work 10 24-hour shifts per month at their full-time job, leaving them time to volunteer on their days off. Backhaus said their service is invaluable to the department since many of the volunteers work outside the community and find it difficult to respond to weekday calls.MVFD members must become state firefighter certified in the first two years. Training is ongoing for all members on a variety of skills, equipment and challenges.“You want your guys to work together,” Backhaus said. “We are a team. That’s why we train together. We want them to be confident on the scene.”Backhaus said every call is different and he wants his department to be prepared for the surprises that come with a variety of emergency calls, including structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, ice rescues, search and rescue, ambulance assists, hazardous materials incidents, severe weather and brush fires.“We depend on emergency dispatch to give us the best information before we arrive on the scene, but sometimes that information is only as good as what the caller tells them,” he said.Another downfall in working in their own neighborhoods is discovering they might recognize some of the victims.“It jerks you around quite a lot,” said Backhaus.The MVFD recently was upgraded to a Class 4 ISO Fire Suppression Rating status, which is based on a variety of criteria, including department training, pumping capability, water supply and emergency communications.Backhaus is proud of the accomplishments of the department and is especially proud to carry on where his father left off. He is also passing it down, with his son Justin recently receiving firefighter of the year.Future plans include building a new fire station in the next five years next to the current Station 1. Backhaus said recruiting is ongoing. Interested members should visit the department website at marthasvillefire.org or stop in at Station 1 on a Wednesday evening during their regular meeting time.

The Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department serves southern Warren County with approximately 30 members. Pictured above during a recent training event are, front row, from left, Wil Irwin, Caiden Thies, Justin Backhaus and Tyler Pruessner. Middle row, from left, are Jack Lovelace, Weston Brewe, Chris Pitucha, Chatty Hellebusch, Jeff Backhaus and Ken Eddens. Back row, from left, are Sean Johnson, Keith Herbert, Brian Kopp and Sarah Dunlap. Record photo/ Cindy Gladden.

Record photo/ Cindy Gladden.


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