Many volunteer fire departments throughout the country are facing their most expensive summer to date, especially considering they must have fuel to operate.
The Kenly Fire Department is no exception, with many of its volunteers draining their wallets to save those in need during an emergency call.
“At the end of the day, we have to prepare for the worst,” said Kenly Fire Department Fire Chief Paul Whitehurst.
A member of the Kenly Fire Department responding to a fire call gets a stipend of $12. The funding comes from a grant due to run out at the end of the year, according to Whitehurst. However, volunteers do not get paid for medical calls, which account for about 50% of the calls the Kenly Fire Department receives. The increased fuel costs have also prompted volunteers for the department to use their own money when responding to emergency calls, Whitehurst said.