When a fire occurs in the country, country people do not dial 911. Instead they dial the 7-digit number for the volunteer fire department. The call is automatically redirected to the county Sheriff’s deputy who immediately places a mass call to the “fire phones” of volunteer firemen. The deputy also places a call to the city clerk who immediately sounds the “5 o’clock whistle.” This whistle summonses to “the fire house” all firemen who are not at home to answer their their fire phones. As firemen arrive at the fire house they board the fire truck and travel to the location of the fire. If the fire is still burning when the firemen arrive then the volunteer fire departments of neighboring towns are called in to assist.
For the most part, volunteer firemen volunteer for the job. However, men who work in town are aware that they are expected to join the squad given their proximity to the 5 o’clock whistle.
While volunteer firemen are all male, country women also have an important role in firefighting. Upon hearing the whistle country women immediately turn on their police scanner to receive details about the fire location. Like the case of severe weather, women with police scanners then call friends and relatives without police scanners to tell them whose property is aflame. This is where things get tricky. Elderly men and women AND women who are close friends of the victims of the fire travel to the location of the fire to reminisce about the destroyed building. Women who did not know the victims and wives of the firemen have the option of preparing brownies and chili to take to the firehouse so that the firemen can be fed when their job is done.
Volunteer firemen are liked by all country people as evidenced by an attendance level at the annual fire department fundraiser that exceeds that of graduation.
