It's a job that takes hundreds of hours of training. dedication, commitment, and the willingness to run into burning buildings -- for free.
"As far as wanting to do it, you've really got to have the heart to do it," said Fire Chief Walter Fairbanks.
The Big Country is peppered with volunteer fire departments.
Chief Walter Fairbanks of the Cisco Fire Department said that is because it is a way for small towns to combat the tax burden of salaried employees.
"If we had to provide a full-time fire department, the taxes would be outrageous in a small town like this," Fairbanks said.
While volunteer firefighter's do not pick up an actual paycheck like you and I, they do receive some benefits.
"Just as recently as 10 years ago, a lot of people had to buy their own bunker gear, equipment, boots, transportation to classes. We're not at that anymore, pretty much everything is provided," Fairbanks explained.
Claude Day has been a volunteer firefighter in Cisco for sixteen years, balancing his day job at Cisco College with his love for the flames.
Besides the inherent joy he gets from helping out in his community, there's also this:
"People call for help, we come, there's no questions about it," Day said.
A way to give back to your community, while living the dream.
"You get to see things that you only see on TV and you get to actually be in the fire and it's just a lot of fun," Day said .
All it takes to become a volunteer firefighter in Cisco is a clean background check, transportation and you have to be 18 years of age or older.
Along with the free training and gear, volunteers are also eligible for life insurance.
Currently, Cisco fire officials are recruiting people to fill ten empty spots in the department to reach the thirty volunteers they need to be at full staff.
"As far as wanting to do it, you've really got to have the heart to do it," said Fire Chief Walter Fairbanks.
The Big Country is peppered with volunteer fire departments.
Chief Walter Fairbanks of the Cisco Fire Department said that is because it is a way for small towns to combat the tax burden of salaried employees.
"If we had to provide a full-time fire department, the taxes would be outrageous in a small town like this," Fairbanks said.
While volunteer firefighter's do not pick up an actual paycheck like you and I, they do receive some benefits.
"Just as recently as 10 years ago, a lot of people had to buy their own bunker gear, equipment, boots, transportation to classes. We're not at that anymore, pretty much everything is provided," Fairbanks explained.
Claude Day has been a volunteer firefighter in Cisco for sixteen years, balancing his day job at Cisco College with his love for the flames.
Besides the inherent joy he gets from helping out in his community, there's also this:
"People call for help, we come, there's no questions about it," Day said.
A way to give back to your community, while living the dream.
"You get to see things that you only see on TV and you get to actually be in the fire and it's just a lot of fun," Day said .
All it takes to become a volunteer firefighter in Cisco is a clean background check, transportation and you have to be 18 years of age or older.
Along with the free training and gear, volunteers are also eligible for life insurance.
Currently, Cisco fire officials are recruiting people to fill ten empty spots in the department to reach the thirty volunteers they need to be at full staff.
