Just My Opinion - by Mary Kilen
The Importance Of Emergency Services
A couple of my friends shared this post by Corey Johnson Interim Fire Chief of Williston in the past week. As I read it, I was really struck by the truth of this post. We are fortunate in Stanley. We have dedicated volunteers on our fire department that are always there when the call comes in. Our ambulance service has members that give up their own family time to make sure that those who need them most are taken care of. The same is true of the departments around us.
Then I remember conversations I have had with friends across the area and state. They may be volunteers themselves or know someone who is. They talk about staffing shortages and the fear of what the future will bring for their fire or ambulance services. This post brings all of that into focus. Consider his post and consider if maybe you or someone you know may be able to be that next person to step up to the plate to help out a community.
“I’ve found myself in numerous conversations across the state regarding fire and ambulance services. I was even asked once why it mattered to me since I was from one of the bigger cities. As I was doing some work this weekend, I wrote this, which hopefully explains it.
“Sustaining fire and ambulance services—especially in our rural communities—has been a major topic of conversation across the state for years. However, the reality of what that truly means hit home for me this Thanksgiving.
My family and I embarked on our annual camping trip, driving across the state from Williston to Fort Ransom State Park. On that long drive, I found myself thinking about our first responders. I realized that for every mile we traveled, I could rest assured that if something happened to my family, someone would be there to help.
I did the math: that single drive took us through 14 different ambulance districts and 28 fire districts.
When people ask, “Why should I care about a fire or ambulance service three counties away?” This is the answer. We often view emergency services as isolated “local” responsibilities, funded by local taxes for local residents. But that view is outdated. The reality is that public safety in North Dakota is an interconnected web.
If a rural ambulance service or fire district closes due to lack of funding or volunteers, the burden ripples outward. The neighboring district must extend its range to cover that territory, stretching their own limited resources thinner and inevitably increasing response times.
We cannot afford to lose a single district because increased distance equals increased time, and time is the one luxury we do not have in an emergency. Those added minutes are the critical difference between life and death. In cases of stroke, trauma, or cardiac arrest, that delay is often the deciding factor between a full recovery and a permanent, life-altering disability. When one link in this chain weakens, the safety net fails for all of us.
We all rely on their ability to respond, not just in our hometowns, but whenever we travel. We often take this safety net for granted; we don’t think about emergency services until the moment we desperately need them. But as you travel our state, remember that fire truck or ambulance you pass might not be your local department, but they are there for you.
So, the next time you stop at a gas station and see raffle tickets for a volunteer department you’ve never heard of, I encourage you to support them. They are protecting you without you even realizing it. And if you have the ear of your elected officials, take a moment to discuss public safety. Remind them that this isn’t just a local issue; it is a county and statewide necessity that keeps the entire state moving safely.”