'Brotherhood'

Jeff Della Rosa/Special to Siloam Proud Firefighter/paramedic John Staats shows a portable hydrulic tool, commonly called the Jaws of Life. A major advantage of the portable tool is that it doesn’t require hoses, which can get in the way.
Jeff Della Rosa/Special to Siloam Proud Firefighter/paramedic John Staats shows a portable hydrulic tool, commonly called the Jaws of Life. A major advantage of the portable tool is that it doesn’t require hoses, which can get in the way.

Firefighters are always ready for anything because, when called, they must respond in short notice.

They suit up in bunker gear, jump into fire trucks and rush to the scene with truck lights flashing and sirens blaring. They go to save lives, extinguish fires and protect property.

But while they're not performing CPR on an unconscious person, rescuing people from burning buildings or using the Jaws of Life to save someone trapped in a vehicle, they keep busy.

Take Saturday, for example. This day, the A shift starts at 7 a.m.

Here, firefighters work 24-hour shifts. Then, they get two days off before returning for their next shift.

Some days the oncoming shift goes out for breakfast, and this day was no exception.

Several firefighters stopped at Cathy's Corner for breakfast. The restaurant offers a superb breakfast with portion sizes sure to provide enough nourishment for any firefighter.

Almost as soon as the firefighters sat down, a young boy came over. They were interested to hear the 5-year-old boy, who celebrated his birthday in April, loves trains and fire trucks.

Firefighters asked the boy several questions before he and his father returned to their table.

Firefighter Charlie Kelm said that community involvement is the best reward out of his job. Without the community taxpayers, he said he wouldn't have this job.

Sometimes, youth and their parents will come to the fire station for a tour, honk the fire truck's horn and turn on its lights.

"It's amazing to see," Kelm said.

When the food arrived, they quickly consumed it before heading back to Fire Station 1 on Cheri Whitlock Drive.

Next up, the shift was on schedule to mow the 7 acres surrounding the fire station.

The chore would've taken a lot longer than it did, but firefighters like to work together. So the crew on duty at the fire station downtown came over to help.

"Station 2 is helping us," Kelm said. "We pay it forward. We're all brothers; it's a brotherhood."

Firefighters can go to any station in the country and be treated the same, firefighter John Staats said. Firefighters will be offered food, drink or be asked if they need anything.

Kelm said firefighters really get to know one another very well.

"We live together for one-third of a year," he said. "This is like a fraternal house."

Throughout the morning, firefighters checked and organized gear to make sure it was in top shape.

Between calls, firefighters might maintain the city's 333 fire hydrants by testing them twice a year.

Battalion Chief Don Lawson said he tries to sleep at night, but when a call comes in, it usually means he won't be getting any more sleep.

On average, the fire department has about 10 calls per day, Lawson said. Lawson is also fire chief for Gallatin Fire Department, east of Siloam Springs.

"We have good days, and we have bad days," Kelm said.

When no one gets hurt or has property damaged, "I know it's a good day," he said.

So far, it's been a good day.

The only call A shift worked that morning, came just before noon. The unknown medical call, which turned out to be a false alarm, was on U.S. Highway 59 south of West Siloam Springs, Okla.

The firefighters, who are also emergency medical technicians or paramedics, quickly drove off in the ambulance with its siren blaring and lights flashing.

They investigated the call and determined that no one was in need of help.

Kelm said it's been a while since he was called to fight a fire.

Lawson said the concern with a low number of fires is a lack of live training.

Siloam Springs Fire Department has three stations and keeps fire engines at each one. The fire department also has a ladder truck and three brush trucks.

Plans include purchasing another ladder truck, an engine truck and a rescue truck, Lawson said. The city board will have the final say on the plans.

Kelm caught the firefighting bug while a volunteer for Logan County. His hometown is Magazine.

"It was contagious," Kelm said. "It really grows on you."

Kelm has been with Siloam Springs Fire Department for three years.

In 2015, he said the American Legion named him firefighter of the year.

"It's humbling," he said.

Kelm said firefighting isn't for everyone. "It's hard to get hired full-time," he said. "You have to be built a special way."

He explained how firefighters must be dynamic because they quickly transition from ambulance drivers to community healthcare providers.

"You can never let your guard down," Kelm said.

Lawson said every firefighter is cross trained and can operate any vehicle. Lawson has worked in fire service for over 30 years.

Staats has worked in fire service for 1½ years.

"There's nothing more satisfying than helping people," he said.

Staats, who is in the Arkansas Army National Guard, spent two years working to become a paramedic.

"It takes a lot of time, a lot of dedication," he said. "The most important thing of all this is the family standing behind you."

Kyle Huffman has been a firefighter for over two years. He started as a volunteer with Highfill.

He explained he knows what it's like to lose close friends and family, and he wants to prevent others from experiencing tragedy like he did.

He recently received a life saver award at a city banquet for saving someone's life.

He's saved others, but he said "that one person is everything to that family. We wish we could save everybody."

Sometimes those whose lives have been saved by a firefighter will visit the fire station, bring cookies or write cards.

Huffman said he's working on becoming a paramedic.

"I'm here to stay," he said.

One constant in firefighting is training. "Whether it's in EMS or fire, you're continually training on something," Lawson said.

And more firefighters are needed.

"We're not paying for what they're doing at the moment," he said. "We're paying for availability in the event of."

Community on 06/29/2016