News Details (Posted: July 1, 2004):

Support your local Volunteer Fire Department

Contact Information:

Matt Baacke
540-720-3288

Full Description:

Dear concerned resident: In the past month you may have read about the Widewater/Potomac Hills Volunteer Fire Department in the local newspapers. If you have not been reading the newspaper, let us fill you in on what has been going on. Eight months ago, we ordered a new state-of-the-art fire engine which was ready for pick up in early April. Several members from Potomac Hills drove to Florida to pick up the truck and on April 7, 2004, got back to Virginia with the new fire engine. Since then we have been the subject of discussion by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. WHY???? The board voted 6-1 to demand that the association's Board of Directors return the truck and resign. They said if we do not give the truck back they will cut off funding from the County. We have found out that it will cost over 100k to return the truck. The truck itself costs over $400,000 (the normal price for firetrucks these days), and the penalty fee is about one-fifth the cost of the truck. Does it make sense to throw 100k out the window when it could be used towards the purchase of the new truck? It seems to make better sense to do that than to waste $100,000. I would say that this is more in line with misuse of funds than the purchase of a new firetruck that will be used to keep our homes and families safe. What do you think? This new truck was bought with proceeds from our Bingo to protect the citizens and businesses in our area. The truck is replacing one that should have been replaced four years ago, because it has been increasingly unreliable and has been in the shop several times recently. Over the past four years we have tried to get the County to replace the current truck but they have been turned down each year. One of the reasons the County is upset about the purchase of the new truck is because they say we did not get approval before we purchased the truck. The County has stated “like all volunteer fire and rescue departments in Stafford, the Widewater Volunteer Fireman's Association is an independent organization not governed by the County." If this is true, why would we need approval through the County before we purchased a new truck, particularly when the truck was paid for using the proceeds from our Bingo, which is held every Tuesday and Saturday nights? The County calls this misuse of funds, but the volunteers at the fire company cannot think of a better way to spend the funds they raise from the Bingo. Can you think of a better way to spend the money than to buy equipment that will better serve you, the Community? We are the second busiest station in Stafford County, but apparently the County doesn’t feel the need to help us purchase the new fire engine to protect the area we serve. When the Board of Supervisors was asked what happens if the current truck breaks down on the way to a fire and as a result someone is hurt or killed or someone's home and belongings are totally lost, their only comment was that "we'd cross that bridge when we come to it." How would you feel if it were your home and belongings that were lost or your loved one who perishes because they'll cross that bridge when they get to it? A couple weeks ago we crossed that bridge, the RT. 610 Bridge and the brakes went out but thanks to the quick thinking of the driver no one was injured and minor damage was done to the truck. For this reason, we are asking for your support. Your support may be given by writing to your supervisor, going to the meetings, or making a donation towards the new truck. If we get enough donation money the County cannot make us return the new truck because it would be “a donation." The volunteers of Widewater/Potomac Hills Fire Company selflessly provide you with many, many hours of their valuable time to keep you and your families safe. They work around the clock and are available when you need them most, despite the fact that most of them hold full-time jobs and sometimes must go to work tired because they were on duty the night before and responded to several calls. Their volunteer work takes them away from their loved ones several days a week so they can protect you and your loved ones. These volunteers are here for you when you need them most--please be there for them when they need you the most. We thank you in advance for your support and a special thanks to all who have supported us in the past.