Hines Vol. Fire Dept.

Hello again, my name is Barney.

I am a senior member of Hines Volunteer Fire Department, located in the rural land of eastern Oregon. Built in 1973, I am a constant source of silent misery for my volunteer fire department, a pathetic mass of low, slow, and not much go. They affectionately call me a dinosaur.

I’m plagued by old age, my last repair kept me out of service for five weeks because parts were so hard to find. It’s not my fault really; it’s the way I was built. Underpowered gasoline engine, rusty plumbing, hydraulic brakes, K-mart seatbelts, it’s the way things were done back then, 37 years ago. I’m not alone, my partner is also tired and worn out, and we’re the only two structural engines owned by the City with a combined age of 62 years. Although my fire department wants me to retire, they simply can’t afford to let me.

In my community folks are honest and friendly, all 1,713 of them. Born as a mill town in the 1930s, Hines has seen a constant downturn in its economy since the end of the logging and timber heyday of the 1980s. Now home to ranching, ex-loggers, and 20.5% unemployment, our good citizens cannot catch a break. Last year, the last remaining manufacturing businesses in town permanently closed their doors, laying off 104 workers.

Every weekend in our community a fundraiser is held for some worthy cause like 4-H, scouts, or cheerleaders. The need is endless and without outside support everyone here is simply struggling to survive, including the Volunteer Fire Department.

In our remote location, we have to make do with what we have. There are only two small fire departments in our entire County of 10,000+ square miles. We are virtually on our own on at every call. There are no second alarms, no backup reinforcements, and no endless line of fire trucks at our disposal. Our responsibility to our citizens and community is just like other city fire departments. Yet, our dedicated members do so constantly worried about the reliability and safety of working with very tired, worn-out equipment. At any given time there is no certainty that I can even make it out of the station.

Despite our shortcomings the Hines Volunteer Fire Department has pride, pride in what they have, not in what they don’t have. They have old fire trucks, but they keep them clean and polished. They have firefighters who despite the embarrassment of tired hand me down apparatus, proudly escort the State champion boys wrestling team as they return to town, proudly prepare another fundraiser pancake breakfast, and proudly stand at attention when our fallen heroes come back from war. Our firefighters have learned to make do with what’s been given to them, in life and in the fire station. It’s all about pride.

My firefighters honestly need your support and I really need to retire!

Barney