From left are Keene Fire Chief Jody Whitney and Allen Carey, former 30-year fire commissioner. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

In 1736, Ben Franklin organized the first volunteer fire department in America. Called the Union Fire Company, he established it in Philadelphia with 30 people volunteering.

Franklin had grown up in Boston, where he had witnessed fire devastation in an urban environment that resulted in well over 100 houses destroyed. Initially, groups of home and business owners created small brigades that assisted only those in the network. Following a massive fire in Philadelphia, Franklin saw the need for an association that would respond to any fire in the city.

Franklin realized that between 30 and 40 participants was the ideal and encouraged others to create similar volunteer departments, an idea that quickly spread out throughout the city. As Franklin was a printer and publisher of popular newspapers and broadsides, he was well positioned to promote the benefits of this approach to fighting fires, an idea that was soon taken up in other communities large and small across the 13 colonies.

Initially, participants came from all walks of life, with wealthier members helping to fund the cost of the equipment needed. In 1818, women started volunteering and were quickly welcomed into the ranks. The first recorded woman was Molly Williams, an enslaved Black woman who lived in Manhattan and volunteered with the No. 11 Engine Fire Company. Today, there are over 19,000 volunteer departments, representing 87% of the fire departments across the country.

They are led by 670,000 volunteers, an impressive number, yet down from 890,000 in 1984. All the local fire departments in our area have lost volunteers and need men and women to join the ranks or serve as auxiliary members. Up until the 1980s, joining a fire department was almost a rite of passage, in part because so many of their relatives served and because they envisioned a future life in their hometown. New residents often felt compelled to join, as many had done the same in their home communities.

Keene Valley firefighters Gregory Pelkey and Lex Wilson (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“I joined because my older brother and dad were members,” said Gregory Pelkey, who has been with the Keene Valley Fire Department for 52 years. “I’ve gotten so much from serving the fire department, such as getting to know the community and everybody we work with. We always talk about family; we might not be that close, but when we’re at a scene, we work together side by side as a family.”

“I encourage people to join a fire department because the community needs our help,” said Pelkey. “I’m not as young as I used to be. We need people to take our places and keep these fire departments going.”

The need is significant. To respond quickly, the town of Keene has two fire departments spread between the Keene and Keene Valley hamlets.

“We do about 100 to 120 fire and ambulance calls a year,” said Keene Fire Chief Jody Whitney, a volunteer since 1983. “Low end, we’ll see around 80, plus our Auxiliary tries to do many things for the community like host blood drives, suppers to benefit kids, and such. They help not only the community but also members of the fire department. If we have a major event, like a forest or house fire, they’ll come here and make the coffee and other stuff to support the fire crew. They also do a lot of fundraising, which is very helpful.”

Fire departments do far more than fight house, business, brush and forest fires; many provide ambulance services, rescue people who have fallen through ice or whose boats have capsized, and, in our region, assist rangers in rescuing hurt or lost hikers and rock climbers. As is true of many departments, the Keene and Keene Valley fire halls host various community events, ranging from charity suppers to blood drives, and they are places where people go to vote.

Keene firefighter Tom McCabe and his grandson Dax (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

In Keene, Jennifer Whitney is an active member of the Auxiliary, which she joined as a way of serving without being on the frontline fighting fires like her husband. She cites as a benefit the satisfaction of knowing that, in a small way, she’s giving back to her community in a manner that makes a difference.

Tom McCabe has been with the Keene Fire Department since 1975. He joined as part of his civic duty and to help ensure that the fire department was able to serve the community. He has stayed involved, especially since Tropical Storm Irene.

“We lost the firehouse in the flood,” said McCabe. “We were lucky to get the funding to relocate and build this facility. It’s now a lovely addition to the community. The firehouse has a conference room used in an emergency, such as a refuge for displaced people needing assistance. During the April 8 eclipse, State Police and others used it as a base of operations. Fortunately, there weren’t any issues other than traffic control and, I think, one ambulance call. As you know, the south traffic was quite slow for a long time. We were ready for any eventuality, but fortunately, everything went quite well.”

Lex Wilson and his wife, Liz, are Keene Valley’s rescue coordinators and also serve as EMTs. When the DEC Forest Rangers call for an assist on backcountry or ropes rescues, or whatever it might be, Lex and Liz organize the response.

“Our job is to make sure the equipment and our team are ready to assist the rangers in any way they need,” said Wilson. “We do what we can when we can. We volunteer because we want to give back to the community and help out. It requires a lot of training, but the satisfaction of helping someone when they are in need pays for it all.”

David Nye, Keene safety coordinator (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

The training to become qualified to fight fires and, for some, enter burning buildings or become an EMT is arduous, time-consuming and expensive. Recognizing the need for volunteer firefighters, departments and the state help defray the costs. The state will now pay stipends for those who complete training, differing amounts depending on the course. In many communities, there are tax breaks and other benefits.

“I hope everybody cares and is willing to help their community,” said Allen Carey, former 30-year fire commissioner. “Joining the fire department or its auxiliary is a great way to do this.”

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley. He has been covering events for the Lake Placid News for more than 15 years.)