Dusk was settling as the fire trucks backed up to the car. The volunteer firefighters of Lincoln County’s Fire Protection District assembled their gear, and under the direction of Assistant Chief Brian Lourance, the Jaws of Life went to work. The passenger door of the wrecked Jeep was quickly removed. Then the driver’s side door followed. And then the crew quickly and efficiently cut away the top and lifted it off, completely exposing the Jeep’s interior.

This was part of a weekly training program that helps prepare the volunteers that respond to Lincoln County residents in emergencies. They were learning methods and evaluating new tools during a training exercise at the Wrecking Crew Junk Yard year Highway 47 and W. Steve Fortman, a volunteer for the past 15 years, said the most common call they receive is for motor vehicle accidents. Other common calls include medical emergencies and animal rescue operations.

Derick Lejeune has been a volunteer for 3 years with LCFPD. An employee of Snow Hill Truss, he and his comrades find that being a volunteer firefighter is interesting and rewarding. They never know when their pagers will go off, but when they get the call, they’re ready.

Assistant Chief Lourance was proud to be there with his son, James, 19, who has been a volunteer for the past 5 years. James has been interested in firefighting since he was a child, and he’s had a lot of opportunity to spend time around the firefighters of Lincoln County.

Have you ever considered becoming a volunteer firefighter? Applications are currently being accepted at Station 1 in Troy. Contact the department at:

244 Firehouse Lane
Troy, MO 63379
636-528-8567

Visit them on the web
www.lincolncountyfire.org

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