According to a report from KPLC, the Ward 6 Fire Department (W6FD) in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, was hit hard by Hurricane Laura five months ago. Although the storm destroyed one of their stations, they’re still working hard to keep the area safe.

Last year was a record year not just for hurricanes and coronavirus but also Calcasieu Parish emergency responders. W6FD District 1 Chief Todd Parker said the department has had to respond to a record number of calls while the number of members is at an all-time low.

Parker stated that the community is simply unaware of how volunteers are needed in the fire service. His jurisdiction is chartered for 60 volunteers, but the number of members they have sits at just 18. This has been made even harder with an increase in call volume.

Now an empty lot takes place on the grounds that housed one of Ward 6′s LA-27 location, which was the hardest hit by the storm.

Despite the damage, the department plans to keep the location operational by getting a temporary garage that will house two apparatus and a recreational vehicle for volunteers.

According to Parker, all volunteer fire departments are in desperate need of more volunteers. Ward 6 is looking for volunteers to run social media, file paperwork, answer calls, and even photograph incident scenes.

If you are interested in volunteering for Ward 6 District, CLICK HERE.

The post Fire Department in Calcasieu Parish (LA) Looks to Rebuild Station After Hurricane Laura appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

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