DECATUR — Since before the turn of the 19th century communities relied on volunteers to staff their fledgling fire departments. From horse drawn pumper wagons that needed 12 strong men to operate to the diesel-powered engines that needed only a single operator, volunteer firefighters were called upon to fight fires and sometimes give their lives to protect the communities they served.
The 12 volunteer firefighters of the Decatur Volunteer Fire Department stand ready to serve and protect the community when the fire bell sounds.
For the past eight years David Flynt served as their chief. On Jan. 1, 2014, Flynt will pass the torch on to a new chief, current Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Luker.
Flynt tendered his resignation at the Dec. 16 city council meeting. "I have the utmost confidence in Jeremy and he will make a fine chief," Flynt explained as he introduced Luker to the Decatur City Council.
Flynt, a 23-year veteran of the Decatur Fire Department, cited personal reasons for his resignation. In his time as Decatur fire chief he has implemented many changes and watched his department grow into a first-class firefighting unit.
Decatur currently commands a force of nine fire trucks which serve a variety of functions. From lifesaving to water tankers to brush fires, these units stand ready to answer the call.
The 12 Decatur volunteer firefighters go through rigorous training procedures and are certified to operate multiple vehicles. This covers all bases should an emergency arise that needs more then one unit to resolve the situation.
The 12 volunteers that make up the Decatur Fire Department are Randy Cox, Joey Gunter, Derek Hill, Brent Hoplins, James Jessen, Bart Johnson, Danny Miller, Ron Miller, Michael Philpot, Mike Price, Jimmy Sousley and Forrest Tharp. These respond to calls for medical assistance, structure fires, grass fires and accidents.
These first responders, along with the leadership of Flynt and Luker, work to keep Decatur a safe place to live. They stand ready to respond in a moment's notice should the alarm sound.
General News on 01/01/2014