Published: October 23, 2007 11:50 pm      

Firefighters receive support from auxiliary

Whether it be rain, shine, blistering heat or the freezing cold, Huntsville firefighters can count on the Huntsville Firefighters Auxiliary to provide support.

Since March 2001, wives, daughters, sisters, mothers and many more have be working together to serve the Huntsville Fire Department.

The non-profit and solely volunteer-based organization is not only dedicated to promoting the interest, safety and welfare of each firefighter but acts as rehabilitation at fire scenes — activity they call, ‘Rehab.’

Kari French, president, said the auxiliary is simply trying to give back to firefighters a little of what they give to the community.

“Rehab is here 24 hours a day and 365 days a year,” French said. “If Huntsville has a main alarm, we can activate Rehab. (Volunteers) take water, Gatorade, hot towels and cold towels to the fire scene — whatever the firefighters need.

“In the winter, we take hot chocolate and coffee,” she said. “Sometimes we’ll go through five loaves of bread while making sandwiches for them to eat. It’s a kind of rehabilitation to keep them going and keep them energized.”

Fire Chief Tom Grisham said the Rehab team springs into action whenever the fire department has an incident lasting longer than about two hours.

“It’s a great group of people who do a very good job,” Grisham said. “They are a vital part of fire service and are kind of a silent partner to us.”

Grisham said the auxiliary is careful and conscious to adhere to rules and are aware of its boundaries.

“We do dangerous work,” Grisham said. “But we designate a safe zone for the auxiliary. We make sure they are set up away from the fire and out of harms way.”

“When firefighters get tired and need a little rehab, they can go relax for a few minutes and have some water,” he said. “In the past, we only had a water jug and not a lot of help. The auxiliary is always there but don’t get a lot of recognition — I’m proud to have them.”

Current members and 2007-09 officers of the Huntsville Firefighters Auxiliary are French, vice president Jamie Warner, secretary Mary Harper, treasurer April O’Neill and Deborah Gilbert, Melissa Cisneros, Debbie Allen and Tammy Johnson.

French said the auxiliary isn’t like a social group but that the fire service is all about family.

“We’re a big family,” French said. “(When I get a call) I go out to a fire with two kids on my hip.”

The firefighters auxiliary is a family-oriented organization and also encourages younger community residents to get involved and help.

“We all have children,” French said. “They are a part of our junior auxiliary and they go everywhere with us. When it’s a school day, I can barely get my kids out of bed but if I say, ‘Rehab,’ they get their clothes, get dressed, grab a pop-tart and a Capri Sun and are in the car before I’ve even got my shoes on. It’s cute.”

The junior auxiliary members also get to help out with Fire Prevention Week, an annual scrapbook and other crafts and events.

“We always try to get the kids involved on some level,” French said.

The auxiliary, a self-supporting organization, has its own fundraisers to earn funds for the volunteer department, pumper team, dive team, fire training and conventions, East Texas Fireman Fire Marshal’s Association and State Fireman Fire Marshal’s Association, French said.

In addition to providing supplies and refreshments to firefighters, the auxiliary has planned and hosted fun events for the fire department as well as participated in joint activities, including annual Christmas parties, the annual Fire Prevention Week and Open House with Sparky the Fire Dog and the annual fourth of July, Christmas, WCFA, and Sam Houston State University Homecoming parades.

The volunteers have also participated in competitions during the East Texas and State Firemen Fire Marshal’s Association conventions. The group won Auxiliary of the Year for 2002-03 and first place for its 2003 Scrapbook.

Mary Harper said her six years of volunteering for the auxiliary has been an enjoyable experience.

“It’s the little things that the fire department may not have money for in their budget that we try to help out with,” Harper said. “We go out and raise money to pay for supplies for the special incidentals that will help the fire department.”

Harper said Rehab and responding to an alarm is never a happy time but its important to be there to support the firefighters.

“Many people don’t know how many calls and fires these guys have to go to — we do,” Harper said. “We just have to put our hearts in the right place and make sure we’re doing something to make our firefighters a little safer.”

Grisham said, when things go bad, the firefighters can always depend on the Huntsville Firefighters Auxiliary.

“When we don’t know how things will turn out or what’s going to happen, we can count on them to be there,” Grisham said. “We can’t do it all ourselves and we’re not ashamed to ask for help. The auxiliary not only represents Huntsville Fire Department but the city of Huntsville and the community.”

For more information about the Huntsville Firefighters Auxiliary, contact French at kari_french@yahoo.com.