Monroe's Fire Companies Always Welcome New Members

Bill Davin first joined the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department as a junior firefighter in 1973, now 40 years later he's chief of the fire company and fire marshal for the town.

Davin recommends firefighting, "just for the satisfaction of helping out your neighbors by doing a good deed and also the people you meet along the way."

Aside from the camaraderie among the men and women who serve, Davin says friendships blossom from responding to emergency calls.

During last week's carnival on Fireman's Field, junior firefighters held out pamphlets seeking new recruits. Junior firefighters are 18 and younger and adult members are over 18.

Davin said people often have the misconception that you have to be 23 and lifting weights at a gym to join.

"We're always looking for prospective members and you don't have to be a firefighter," he said. "You could work behind the scenes, do administrative work or become a member of the Fire Police and assist police with traffic at fire scenes."

Those interested in becoming a firefighter may stop by any firehouse in town on a Tuesday night between the hours of 7 and 9 o'clock.

The Monroe Volunteer Fire Department currently has 38 to 40 active members, according to Davin, who estimates there is a total of 75 to 80 active members in all three town fire companies: Stepney, Monroe and Stevenson.

"Membership is down, but it has been remaining steady," Davin said.

However, he said the number of firefighters has never dipped to a level low enough for the town to become concerned over losing its volunteer service.

To put that in perspective, Stepney, the town's oldest fire company, is 96-years-old, Monroe just turned 90 and Stevenson was formed 63 years ago, according to Davin.

Ideally, Davin said the Monroe fire company would have 45 to 50 active members.

Among the reasons some members move on, is because they move away, responsibilities increase at work or there is another commitment — and others simply lose interest, Davin said.

"It's quite a commitment," he explained. "There is weekly training and mandatory training throughout the year to remain an active firefighter."