The Noel Fire Department is in good shape except for not having enough volunteers, according to Fire Chief Brandon Barrett.
"Our biggest struggle is getting people that want to volunteer," he said. "Personnel has stayed fairly consistent over the past few years. I'm supposed to be fully staffed at 25 and now we're at 13 paid and four reserve."
Unlike most volunteer fire departments, the Noel Fire Department pays its volunteers.
"We upped our pay this year. The reason we did that was to try and recruit people. This day and age no one wants to do anything for free anymore," Barrett said.
The Noel City Council approved the pay increase.
"The city of Noel is actually pretty good to us financially. As long as our budgets and everything are met. As long as we live within our means," he said.
The increase was from $5 to $6 an hour for base pay.
"Everybody got a dollar an hour raise," Barrett said.
During the April flood, the Fire Department worked 323 man hours with 10 people, he said. They performed 13 water rescues with 19 people rescued on 13 calls.
The department has answered 293 calls so far this year. In 2016 they answered a total of 347, while in 2015 they answered a total of 366.
"I bet we'll hit at least what we did last year or maybe more," Barrett said. The department is averaging 43 calls per month.
Capt. Shain Scott works for Walmart. He has been volunteering for the Fire Department for a little more than two years this time and a little more than six years total.
"I enjoy helping people, and it fulfills my desire to serve," he said.
Michael Patton has been volunteering with the department for about five years.
He said, "I started right before my oldest daughter was born. I did it for her."
Joshua Todd works for Insul-Bead Corp., in Gravette, Ark. He has volunteered for four years at the Noel Fire Department and previously volunteered for 10 years at Sulphur Springs, Ark.
He said he volunteers "To help my community."
Cody Miller works at Little Debbie in Gentry cleaning the bulk system. He has been volunteering for six years. He said he volunteers "To give back to the community."
General News on 10/12/2017