But they do more than just fight fires. They are first on the scene when flooding occurs, helping area residents with something as simple as pumping out their basements. Or in more serious cases, they rescue individuals trapped by rising waters. Firefighters are first on the scene of car wrecks and downed trees.
First responders are there to assist individuals when buildings or other structures collapse.
And they are there to help clean up and protect local residents at hazardous materials incidents. The efforts of firefighters are all the more impressive when you consider that nearly 80 percent of firefighters are volunteers. These are individuals with other jobs, with their own families, who donate their time and hard work all in the name of helping their communities. And the service they provide is invaluable. That s how much it would cost our townships and municipalities to replace the volunteer firefighters with a paid, career fire company.