All Are Invited to Fire Department Pig Roast Sunday 3 p.m. at The Old Lantern
by Lindsay Longe,
August 11, 2011, page 1.....

On Sunday, August 14, the Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) will host the second Annual CVFD Community Pig Roast at The Old Lantern on Greenbush Road. “Last year was a ton of fun and a great way to unite the department with the community we serve, so we are doing it again. We really want to give our neighbors a way to connect with us in non-emergency situations,” said Lieutenant Chris Mack.
The department, of approximately 30 volunteer members, responded to over 120 calls in the past year, which included a wide variety of emergency situations. “In July we went to multiple motor vehicle accidents, including two that involved extractions with the jaws of life for which our crew has completed advanced training, three carbon monoxide detector and four smoke alarm activations, a high-angle rescue on Mt. Philo, and two water-rescue calls,” explained Captain Josh Flore.
“High-angle and water-rescue calls are becoming much more frequent. We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to send experienced officers to specialized trainings,” commented Assistant Chief Dick St. George. Four members attended one such training in Keene, New Hampshire, for a weekend in April to become swift-water certified. According to Mack, “It was a great experience to train with fire and rescue volunteers from all over the east coast. We drilled a variety of drowning rescue scenarios, which were very similar to water-rescue scenes we’ve come upon in the past and will definitely encounter in the future.”
CVFD recently purchased a larger and better-equipped rescue boat that will increase its ability to respond to future calls. “We have been using what most people would think of as a dinghy, which can be dangerous on Lake Champlain and has been insufficient in rough conditions. The new boat will allow us to do our job more safely and more quickly. We’ll be on scene in half the time because the boat will be in the water rather than stored at the station and transported. It is well worth the investment, and we’re thankful that funds, such as those raised at last year’s pig roast, are available to help subsidize such purchases,” said Flore.
St. George described another important set of purchases this year, “We had to spend about $3,000 to replace 800 feet of rope and two ice rescue suits destroyed in the Papa Neutrino rescue last winter.” This dramatic rescue was just one of many calls during which members relied on the skills they practice in trainings year round.
“Active members must complete 36 hours of training annually, but there is a core group of us who spend over 300 hours improving our skills and knowledge through classes, live practice burns and weekly training exercises at the station,” explains St. George. There is always something new to learn or a set of skills to practice, even for veteran members. “We have a lot of equipment and everyone needs to be comfortable with all of it at any given moment, so we spend a lot of time training at the stations. We also do more advanced work, like extracting dummies from crushed cars and attending live burns to see how fire reacts in different structures and to give new members a sense of what it’s like to be in a burning building,” explained Mack.
There have been two major structure fire calls this summer. The department, along with departments from many surrounding towns, fought a house fire on Wings Point in June and responded as mutual aid to a fire in Shelburne. Flore stressed the importance of experience and great training as he recalled the Wings Point fire: “Chris Mack and Devin St. George, two talented and experienced guys, made a great initial attack. They set the stage for a large crew to come in and spend many hours controlling that fire and ultimately saving most of the building and belongings.”
Volunteers are passionate about what they do and, almost without exception, stop whatever they are doing to respond to a call. “Calls often come in the worst weather conditions and at the least opportune times, but it doesn’t matter. Dispatch sends out tones; members rush to respond. It’s that simple.” While very little of what these volunteers do is simple or straightforward, their commitment is clear-cut. For Mack, it has become a way of life. “I am happy to drop whatever I’m doing for a call. I don’t give it a second thought because there are very few things more important than helping someone in need.”
This group of highly trained and unquestionably dedicated individuals will be there if you are ever in need. They serve the community all year long and would be honored to serve you dinner on Sunday, August 14, at the Old Lantern. There will be great food and live entertainment starting at 3 p.m., so come join your neighbors and show your support for the Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department. For more information, to make a donation if you are unable to attend, or to volunteer, call Kay Gault at the station at 425-3111.