Stephen Carr, president of the York Village Fire Department corporation, laid out the typical scenario for a volunteer firefighter at the York Village or York Beach departments.
“The pager goes off. You could be at work, so you’re leaving work and not getting paid while you respond,” he said. “You get in your vehicle, using your own gasoline. There are family costs and physical costs. You’re making a lifestyle sacrifice to help your fellow citizen.” That is why he and firefighters in both departments are asking voters to approve Question 7 on the May ballot, which would create a $100,000 fund to pay minimum wages to volunteer firefighters who respond to calls.
“No one is becoming a firefighter to be rich,” said Carr. “We just would like to see it not cost us money.”