Rural fire protection runs on an impossible equation
100% volunteer turnover every two years, 500+ emergency calls annually, and communities that cease to exist without fire service.
I founded the Herald Fire Prevention Council because I saw the gap our fire department—no matter how exceptional—cannot fill alone. This isn't about criticism. It's about completion.
Our fire chief manages perpetual transitions while coordinating emergency response for a community where 14% are seniors. New construction and equipment show professional commitment to Herald's future. But institutional knowledge walks away every 24 months.
Prevention is the continuity layer. It's what persists when volunteer rosters reset. It's what makes firefighting less necessary and more effective when needed.
On January 10th, our community decides whether to step into that gap—or leave it empty. The stakes are existential: no fire protection means no insurance, collapsed property values, and a ghost town.
This article is the raw truth Herald needs to hear. It's also a blueprint for any rural community facing the same structural challenge.
What does it look like when a community takes responsibility for its own resilience?
Herald volunteer firefighters training in front of the station, highlighting the community collaboration and wildfire resilience efforts led by the Herald Fire Prevention Council to maintain consistent fire protection.
