Lake Life

PSFR honors members, supporters during banquet
Monitor Staff Reports
MALAKOFF–Changing technology means firefighters have to train hard to recognize new dangers, members of the Payne Springs Fire Rescue (PSFR) department heard at their annual awards banquet March 6.
Most of the department’s 44 members and a number of special guests were on hand for the 36-year-old department’s banquet, marking 2009 accomplishments.
One major accomplishment was so startling, it prompted fire chief Randy Harley to review figures a second time, just to be sure.
For 2009, the Payne Springs Fire Rescue suffered an in-district total loss of just $184,000, and saved more than $4 million in property, Harley said.
“That is awesome,” he pointed out. “We have a lot of high-dollar homes in the district that we responded to.”

Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Nearly all of the 44 members of Payne Springs Fire Rescue gather for a photo during the 36-year-old volunteer fire department's annual awards banquet at the Malakoff Community Center March 6. The department responded to 801 calls during 2009, with an average of 14 members responding to fire calls and an average of five members responding to rescue/medical calls.

The PSFR responded to 801 calls in 2009, with nearly half (395) being rescues and/or emergency medical service runs. The department responded to 121 fires during the year.
An average of 14 members responded to fire calls, with an average response time of six minutes. The average response time for a medical call was seven minutes, with five members responding.
Last year’s “Firefighter of the Year,” Dillon Herbert, was the department’s top responder for both fires and medical calls, although Harley pointed out the top four fire responders and top two medical responders were very close in the number of calls.
Stephanie West had the second-highest number of responses for both fire and medical calls, and both Ed Baggett (third) and Patrick Harris (fourth) were very close in the number of medical responses, Harley reported.
Tanker drivers Dick Stein (third) and Donald Mecklin (fourth) were also close to the top in fire responses, he said.
The remaining top medical responders were Treena Becker (fifth), Stein, Mecklin, Nathan Gilbreath, Michael Juica and Harley.
Fifth place on the fire responses went to Becker, followed by Harris, Juica, Chris Perez, David Woodcock and Harley.
Harris was honored as the department’s “Firefighter of the Year,” and cited for his unusual dedication in responding to calls, sometimes mounted on a bicycle.
Gilbreath was honored as the department’s “Rookie of the Year.”
Department members put in 20,603 man-hours of work during the year, with a large percentage being training hours, Harley said.

Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Payne Springs Fire Rescue members look over the department's new E-1 fire engine, scheduled for formal delivery March 20, following the department's banquet at the Malakoff Community Center.

That high level of training really showed the night of Jan. 11-12, when the PSFR responded to the Lake Athens Baptist Church at the request of the Athens Fire Department, which was already at the scene of another burning church, the Grace Community Church.
Both churches were among 10 East Texas houses of worship burned between Jan. 1 and Feb. 20, when two young men were arrested through a combined federal/state/local investigation and identified as serial arson suspects.
Athens Fire Chief John McQueary, serving as the guest speaker for the second straight year, admitted he had never worked with volunteer firefighters before coming to Athens.
“This (Lake Athens Baptist fire) was one of the first times I was able to watch your department under the gun,” he said. “Y’all did a tremendous job.
“I did watch – that’s my job,” McQueary added. “I watched a really good team in operation.
“Anytime we have something like that come up again, I’d love to have y’all respond,” he said.
McQueary said changing conditions and technology means firefighters face new dangers and new challenges.
“We can no longer get on a roof and cut a hole in a modern roof,” he said. “We can’t lean inside a car through the window and hold traction without the fear factor of having a side airbag go off.”
What was standard procedure 20 years ago may be extremely hazardous now, McQueary said.
Speaking directly to the younger firefighters in the audience, McQueary said, “You have to dedicate yourself to study and learn about fire service and its hazards.”
No matter how bold a firefighter may be, buildings are not constructed the same way as they were, and new plastics produce different toxins when burned, he pointed out.
“We have to recognize these changes,” he said.
Harley told the gathering the department’s motto, “Our family serving your family,” was literally true, pointing to members of his family surrounding one of the tables set up inside the Malakoff Community Center.
Since the department’s organization in 1974, the PSFR has gradually obtained a number of first-class fire apparatus, and Harley noted the department’s fourth E-1 fire engine was waiting outside for members to look it over before it is formally delivered March 20.
“The Payne Springs community should be honored that we have an apparatus where we can ride safely and comfortably to a fire scene,” Harley said.
During the banquet, special recognition was extended to Jimmy and Irma Reynolds, who provide land and support for the department’s main fund-raiser of the year, the Halloween “Woods of Terror.”
Also getting recognition were the Pinnacle Women’s Club, members of the Emergency Services District No. 2 board (Charles Oram, Robert O’Neil, Nelda Reynolds, Jimmy Reynolds and Ken Shaver).
All of the department’s members were recognized, starting with assistant chiefs Randy B. Hardee and David Woodcock, captains Donald Mecklin, Darrell Posey and Jason Dixon, lieutenants Stephanie West, Treena Becker and Dillon Herbert, safety officers Randy F. Hardee, Chuck Harley and Michael Juica, and medical officers Capt. Jason Thorn and Lt. Ed Baggett.
The PSFR also has a board of directors, with president Dick Stein, vice president David Woodcock, chief Randy Harley, secretary Kay Hardee, treasurer Chris Reed and chaplain Tonya Posey.
Members include Gerald D. Baggett, Bryan Bird, Cindy Bird, Marlie Bird, Thomas Eden, Gilbreath, Cristina Godby and Jay Gordon.
Also, Kay Hardee, Harris, Nathan Juica, Kellie Kelsay, John Laywell, Jason Lewis, Gary Mason, Perez, Chris Reed, JoVonna Shelton, Stein and Alisha Teague.
Also, Cortney Thomas, Chris Walley, Shannon Ward, Glenda Harley, Jane Horton, Michael Horton, Tonya Posey and Lil Woodcock.