Our priceless volunteers give much to the community, and more are needed [Editorial]

The Bel Air Fire Volunteer Fire Company is getting a new fire chief after a special election Sept. 6.The new chief will replace Deputy Chief Mike Walker, who is serving as interim chief, replacing Chief Ricky Davis, who resigned his leadership position Aug. 8.Davis, who had been chief for a bit more than two years, cited personal reasons when he tendered his resignation to the board. He is remaining an active firefighter with the Bel Air organization.We mention his departure not only because Davis was the leader of Harford County's busiest volunteer fire department, but also because it's the county's biggest and most financially secure department with an endowment in the neighborhood of $25 million.Volunteers like Davis, who has given his heart and soul to the volunteer emergency service while holding down another full-time job to pay the bills, are getting harder and harder to find.Each of Harford County's volunteer fire and EMS companies has members like Davis, who give a lot of time and effort volunteering to protect their communities, but those numbers have been slowly on the decline. Hence, most of the firehouses have those signs out front seeking new volunteers. In addition, just about every community in the county has paid EMS responders working at least part of each day.In some places, it hasn't been easy for volunteers to give of themselves while toiling alongside paid personnel. For the most part, that hasn't been an issue yet in Harford County.One day, it will, but probably not before Harford County Executive Barry Glassman has to face the burning question of how to provide emergency response in the future. Most likely, it will be a county executive long after Glassman has gone, who has to cross the bridge of putting paid emergency responders in all of the places where only volunteers once trod.That day will come when there aren't any more folks like Ricky Davis, willing to risk life and limb because it's the right thing to do, not because they're getting paid to do so.

Our priceless volunteers give much to the community, and more are needed [Editorial]

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