A recent lake fatality has prompted a new mission for Lake Rayburn volunteer firefighters, who are now asking for the public’s help to save lives, BeaumontEnterprise.com reported.

The firefighters are seeking funding options for a permanent fire and rescue boat on Lake Sam Rayburn to improve response time to emergency calls, the report said. The first responders currently have to wait on other agencies or an area resident to bring a boat whenever there is a call for help on the large East Texas lake.

Sometimes other law enforcement agencies, who are responsible for a large service area, are not always available at the time of a call on the lake. The closest boat to the department is located about 20 minutes away in Jasper, a fire official said.

The volunteer fire department has the manpower, but it does not have the funding. The department has nearly 20 volunteer firefighters, including about eight who are emergency care attendants, according to the report.

While the volunteers see the benefit of the fire and rescue boat, a specially-equipped boat can cost as much as $300,000, the report said. So far, about $500 has been raised for the boat.

Sam Job, President of the local Emergency Services District No. 4, which represents the rural fire departments in North Jasper County and the fire district around the lake, said the effort has included reaching out to other agencies inquiring about used fire boats, the report said.

The first responders are getting a small flat bottom boat from Jasper County as the effort continues, the report said.

The Rapid City Fire Department held a ceremony and blessing to welcome its new ladder truck into service. The ceremony included a traditional push-in, where the truck was pushed into Station 6 by members of the department, BlackHillsFox.com reported.

This tradition dates back to when fire trucks were horse-drawn carriages that, after being taken out, had to be manually pushed back into the garage, the report said.

The ceremony was long-awaited as the process to get the custom-built truck began in 2019. However, due to economic and supply issues, the truck was not received until this year. With the truck now in service, firefighters believe they will be better prepared.

It is the third ladder truck to be added to the department.

This is part of an age-old tradition. Firefighters have participated in the push-in ceremony dating back to the 1800’s, a fire official said.

In this week’s First Responders Spotlight, we head to a fire station that helped a couple stay together in the final years they had left, RochesterFirst.com reported.

Henrietta Fire District managed to provide a level of security and peace for John and Jodi Guiancursios, husband and wife, when emergencies arose, the report said.    

John Guiancursios was in failing health in the final years of his life, getting weaker and suffering from dementia, the report said.

Not wanting to live in a nursing home, John was able to stay in his Henrietta home, right across the street from the Erie Station Fire Department, part of the Henrietta Fire District. John would often collapse and have emergencies and Jodi would call the fire team for help, according to the report.

The fire department helped the Guiancursios as much as 20 times, the report said.

While John passed at 87, what these firefighters did for him and Jodi remains. The fire team wants to let everyone know they don’t just fight fires.

For more on this story, please go to RochesterFirst.com.