My boyfriend, Micah and I are part of the Cordova Volunteer Fire Department. It’s a 100% volunteer department and the one and only rescue crew in town. So, whatever the emergency, from an avalanche to a car accident to a heart attack, they are the ones that respond. Home-town heroes that have day jobs and families and do this for the community for free in their spare time.
taken last summer, during sunnier times 
We carry a pager along with us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so that we can respond to an emergency. As you can imagine, during this “Snowpocalypse” emergency, we have been quite busy. Responding to houses that have caved in, avalanches, going on patrol, and always shoveling, shoveling, shoveling. These are great people, some of the best in our community… but they get tired too. This photo was taken last night at the Cordova Volunteer Fire Department weekly meeting.
photo courtesy Micah Renfeldt
Apparently, Dick Groff needs a bit more of a push when it comes to taking a break. His wife secretly pinned this note to his jacket when he fell asleep between shoveling and Fire. When he groggily came into the fire hall for the weekly meeting, Micah was able to snap this picture before he noticed. Ha! This is awesome. Just shows you how dedicated these folks are! Thank, you, Cordova Volunteer Fire Department, for all you do!
UPDATE:
Since writing this post last winter, I have learned a lot more about this group by participating in all kinds of events like cancer head-shave fundraisers, parades, car washes, medic training, and of course putting out some fires. And I feel this needs to be said… this is a very dedicated group that likes to have fun too. Here are some highlights from CVFD 2012:
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CVFD medics practice treating a burn victim
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The department has grown since I’ve started… especially in estrogen. We went from 2 active female firefighters (including me) to 7!
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Probie, Megan Hess at the CVFD Carwash fundraiser
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me with a couple future firefighters at the CVFD Car Smash fundraiser
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Micah practicing his extrication skills
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some of our veteran members at our Halloween fright house
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James and Carlos, the Rescue Fairy at this year’s Iceworm Parade
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Live Burn practice
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Group picture at this year’s Alaska Fire Conference in Sitka
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me in my first real fire
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You may remember him from when his wife pinned a note to his back in the picture above. Safety Officer Dick Groff is a hoot and definitely one of our most dedicated members.
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all these folks shaved their heads (or a portion of their heads, in Laura’s case) to raise funds for a local cancer patient.
