Creston Fire Chief Curt Ward estimates 75-80 percent of the department’s calls are for medical service unrelated to a fire. 

“Things like illness, fall or car accident,” Ward said. “There’s been several times us getting there quickly made a tremendous difference with the patient. People have been kept alive until they could be given a higher level of care.”

May 16-22 was National EMS week, an effort to honor emergency medical service practitioners for safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of their communities. 

Creston Fire has 12 volunteer members. Everyone at the station has taken EMT basic courses. Each EMT has to go through 60 hours of continuing education to renew their license every four years. 

Ward said the purpose of departments like Creston Fire is the time factor. They can be on scene within 5-6 minutes. It’s longer for Rochelle, a larger department. 

“If someone’s not breathing or their heart isn’t beating,” Ward said. Or if it’s a severe injury. We can begin CPR or control bleeding. They don’t have to wait for Rochelle. You want to start CPR within six minutes when someone isn’t breathing. There could be brain damage if that doesn’t happen.”

Ward wanted to stress to the community that volunteers are always needed. Even though it has 12 members, Creston Fire never knows how many will be available when a call comes in. All training, with the exception of paramedic, is paid for by the department. 

“We do it to help the community,” Ward said. “I know it sounds generic, but most of the guys would tell you that.”

Both Hillcrest and Creston Fire are part of the Ogle-Lee Fire Protection District, which also has departments in Flagg Center and Steward. 

Hillcrest Fire Chief Steve Builta believes the biggest misconception about his department is that it does just fires. 

There are 12 people on Hillcrest’s department. Everyone holds at least first responder training and six are EMTS, of those several are either nurses or work in other healthcare settings. 

Builta called rural volunteer service “critical” and said they get a chance to know their community and provide comfort and assistance, especially to those who call more regularly. When Rochelle comes to transport some individuals, the rural responders tell them who will be taking care of them and what’s going to happen. 

“There are so many times where having that quick response helps, whether it’s CPR, heart attack or a car accident,” Builta said. “We can point to examples where it’s saved a life or helped someone to have a better quality of life after the event. We also do community outreach teaching CPR and first aid.”

When Builta and his wife, Joelle, moved to Hillcrest over 20 years ago, they decided they wanted to give back. They chose Hillcrest Fire. 

“For a lot of people, the day we help them is the worst day of their lives,” Builta said. “People don’t just call an ambulance. Things have to get bad for that to happen. To care for people and their families is rewarding.”

To volunteer for the Ogle Lee Fire Protection District, call (815) 562-2122.