Winter weather doesn’t stop local volunteer fire department

GORDONVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) – From icy back roads to long overnight calls a volunteer fire department saying their job doesn’t end when the weather turns severe.

While roads were nearly impassable last weekend when a snowstorm swept through the area, the Gordonville Fire Protection District was still on the move.

Michael Gentry is the fire chief of the Gordonville Fire Protection District. He shares that it’s not always easy to fully staff a volunteer fire department. He shares that multiple members stayed at the department the entire weekend of the snowstorm ready to respond to community needs.  

“They ran around seven calls anywhere from, you know, a fire call to a wreck, to if somebody got hurt, or were out sledding on the snow, or, you know, trying to plow off a driveway” says Gentry.

Gentry shares that many members of the Fire Protection District are community members their selves.

“We have around 25 members. Not all of those are active all the time. You know, we’re your neighbors across the street, we’re your business owners or your teachers in your school. So having those members come together as a volunteer organization to help out the community is great” says Gentry. 

Gentry explains that grant funding also plays a big part in running a volunteer department, he shares that he applied for a grant through a commercial insurance agency called FM in the amount of $5,000 and– they were awarded the grant. 

Gentry says the funding will go to a pre-planning system that will allow for them to see full access to buildings and businesses ahead of arriving on scene which will assist firefighter response and enhance safety.

“Pre-planning through this grant will allow us to get with the businesses face to face, get stuff on record, find out who the key holders are. All that stuff I talk about before and allow the fire department personnel to visit a business” says Gentry.