And I often here it said (or something similar) that “people will spend 50 bucks on booze and cigarettes without thinking twice, but they won’t spend $35 to $45 to pay for fire protection for a whole year.” I have to admit, when you look at it that way, not ponying up fire dues doesn’t stand to reason.
Basically, dues and other funding sources ensure that volunteer fire departments have the means to do what people want them to do: Fight fire and respond to various incidents and emergencies that don’t involve flames. Conversely, they couldn’t operate without adequate financial support.
Once when I was discussing the issue of dues with Raymondville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Jackson, he called them “cheap insurance.” How true.
I mean, when the difference between having fire protection and not having it could come down to a $45 expenditure once every 12 months, the choice for me is a no-brainer in favor of paying. Really, when you think about everything that comes with that rather modest sum, it starts looking like quite a bargain.
Anyway, while some people question the viability of volunteer fire departments (probably with a fair amount of validity), one thing’s for sure: Volunteer firefighting is a system solidly in place in Texas County, and that’s not going to change any time soon. So perhaps the only logical thing to do until further notice is support the county’s fire departments.
That would seem to be in our best interest, with no exceptions. And the best way for the average individual to do it is to pay those annual dues.
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. His columns are posted online at www.houstonherald.com. Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.