Volunteers of the Vineyard

The men and women who make up the rosters of volunteer emergency responders in all six towns on the Vineyard are a dedicated lot. Almost without exception they are working-class people who hold down regular jobs, have families and face the unique and constant challenges that living on the Island poses with its uneven rhythms. The high cost of living, the summer crush, the winter isolation — they endure these things because like so many who live here they are drawn to the Island for its qualities that counterbalance the downsides, including a natural environment that is free from pollution, good public schools and a caring community that is safe and relatively free from violent crime.

There are many who volunteer their time to a wide array of worthy causes on the Island, but none more demanding than the job of being a volunteer firefighter or emergency responder. To begin with, firefighters and EMTs go through rigorous training and continuing education, taking classes and participating in drills. Their jobs are performed under the most stressful circumstances, during emergencies and in crises where human lives are at stake — and more often than not the lives of people who are their friends and neighbors. There are many examples: last winter in the bitter cold up-Island firefighters responded to a burning home in Christiantown only to find that one of their own, a West Tisbury firefighter, had perished inside. And of course last month the Menemsha fire at the Coast Guard boathouse was a high-octane, real-life test for every Island firefighter who responded.

At the Chilmark firemen’s association annual backyard bash two weeks ago, one fireman spoke about the work these men and women do. “The firemen, they’re dedicated. They’re community-minded people,” said association president and volunteer firefighter Donald Poole. “They realize that there’s nobody here that’s going to do this kind of stuff unless we step up to the plate. So it becomes like a club of guys who care, and not just about the fire department. Whatever happens in town, we’re the kind of guys that would help you. If your car gets stuck or your battery dies or you lose your dog or something — these are the kind of guys that just come out and help people.”

But this is not Pleasantville. The truth is that it is becoming harder and harder to attract volunteers, especially as firefighters and emergency responders. The older people who do this work are becoming tired and there are not enough younger people stepping up to take their place.

This is a problem that deserves careful attention and thoughtful discussion about how to encourage continuity in a form of community service that has an understandably high burnout rate.

It’s not enough to simply thank these selfless volunteers — but since our lives depend on them, we will do that too.