Vermont First Responders, A Series:

Your Local Firefighters and Fire Departments

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

Last month, we kicked off a special series here in the Bernie Buzz on Vermont’s first responders and the enormously important work they do in our communities. In that first story, we talked about the Vermont State Police. Today, I hope you’ll join me in hearing from the Newark Vermont Volunteer Fire Department.

Newark is a rural town of just under 600 people located in the Northeast Kingdom.

Simply put, our local fire departments are made up of brave and dedicated members of our communities who often make the difference between life and death and the saving of property.

When we talk about fire departments, what you might not know is that about 88% of fire departments in Vermont and 70% of departments across the country are made up of volunteers. Unfortunately, despite the important work local fire departments do, too many of them are understaffed and lack the resources they need to provide these essential services.

Bottom line: Nobody wants to face a fire or medical emergency, dial 9-1-1, and have nobody available to answer your call.

Recently, the Bernie Buzz spoke to Aaron Leonard, a Captain and EMT at the Newark Volunteer Fire Department to learn more about their operation, what it’s like to volunteer, and the urgent need for more firefighters – especially in rural communities. I hope you’ll watch the video above to hear what he had to say.

If you’re interested in getting involved with your local fire department, please call the Vermont Fire Academy at 802-483-2755, visit your local fire department, or click the link here for more information: https://firesafety.vermont.gov/fireserviceopportunities


Sincerely,