Taming the beast
Rusk firefighters work tirelessly to save lives, property
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Terry Joe Phillips was named Rusk Fireman of the Year at the annual department banquet Monday night at the Legend of Harvey Collins Restaurant. Making the presentation were Dr. Anthony Holcomb, left, and James Sanchez, right. Mr. Phillips was recognized for his years of dedication to the department. PHOTO: GLORIA JENNINGS

A Rusk Volunteer Fireman is part of a breed all his own. The Rusk Fire Department is composed of 30 volunteers, including three paid firemen, who also become volunteers as they take on the duties of the department. They presented awards to fellow firemen at the annual Rusk Firemen Banquet Monday night at the Legend of Harvey Collins Restaurant in Rusk.

Most of these almost saintly gentlemen began their duties with the department when they were in their teens or early 20s. A number have stayed on for 40-50 years. These giants of men attend fire drills and fight one fire right after another. They do all of this because they desire to help better serve their community.

Their efforts do not go unnoticed. Folks who have lost a home or business or watched a nearby burning structure almost destroy their property are quick to say thank you for the work they do.

They ask nothing for their efforts. The only fund raiser they have is in October. A letter is sent out at that time asking property owners to contribute to the department.

Fire fighting can almost be a fulltime job. Grass is dry. Burn bans are in the making for several counties. However, one for Cherokee County has not been discussed.

During a period from October 2006-September. 2007, the fire department only answered 34 grass and woods fire calls. Since October there has already been 20 grass and woods fire calls.

An average of 17-18 fire calls are answered each month.

A report prepared in October showed there were 190 fire calls answered by 2,181 men during that period.

Fire calls included seven businesses, three in the city and four in the county; 28 dwellings, 15 in the city and 13 in the county; three rural mobile home fires; 34 grass/ wood fires, seven in the city and 27 in the county; 14 car fires, seven in the city and seven in the county; 76 accidents, 25 in the city and 51 in the county; and 21 other fires, 11 in the city and 10 in the county.

Since October, there have been 61 fire calls with 647 men responding. These included one business call in the county; four dwellings, two in the city and two in the county; 20 grass/woods fires, four in the city and 16 in the county; two car fires in the county; 31 accidents, seven in the city and 24 in the county and two others in the city.

During 2007 volunteer efforts saved the city $59,440.14. Since October, these efforts have saved the city another, $14,809.32.