The Roby Volunteer Fire Department has come to a crossroads and is reaching out to the public to for help.
Chief Rick Bresette said the department no longer has an operational fire truck, as a 1969 Ford pumper that was its last functional unit recently broke down. Its pump system blew while at the scene of a house fire on Jan. 6.
“This was our only truck to respond to calls,” Bresette said. “Thank God we didn’t have anyone in the house at the time the pump blew up or I could have lost volunteer firefighters. Unfortunately, the house was a complete loss.”
Bresette – who has been chief of the department since the beginning of this year – said a GoFundMe page has been set up in hopes of buying a newer used truck. He said he has identified a 2005 Sterling model with a price of $195,000 that’s available in central Arkansas.
“We haven’t decided that the GoFundMe is our last chance,” Bresette said, “we’re still trying to find other avenues. We’re still trying to find a truck we can afford in case the GoFundMe doesn’t work.
“Maybe we’ll find a $5,000 truck, but then we’ll be in the same situation. We need something we can rely on.”
On Jan. 9, the Roby FD was called out to another house fire and couldn’t respond with a truck. Bresette said Roby firefighters were on scene in less than five minutes and had to wait for more than 23 minutes for a fire truck from a neighboring department to arrive, and another home was lost.
“We have looked into getting a loan to buy a newer used truck, but we can’t afford to make the payments and would have to put the fire station up as collateral,” Bresette said. “We’re a poor rural fire department that relies on the community to pay membership of $40 a year for fire protection. After paying all our overhead costs we don’t have enough money to repair the trucks we do have.”
Founded in 1988, the Roby FD has seven firefighters on its roster and a five-member board that oversees operations. The department not only responds to fire calls, but in many situations is the only entity offering medical calls within its area.
“That’s free to the public,” Bresette said. “Not to us, but it is to the people.”
While the current situation exists, the Roby FD’s vast coverage area is being tended to by mutual aid from departments at Plato, Licking, Fort Leonard Wood and other local areas. Bresette said the Sterling is fully equipped and ready to fight fires.
“All we have to add is water and fuel,” he said.
The goal set by Bresette is to raise $200,000 so the truck can be shipped to Roby and department lettering can be added.
“Please, if you can find it in your heart to help our proud volunteers and donate, you would help us save the lives of others and give us a fighting chance to save someone’s home,” Bresette said.
The Roby Fire Department’s phone number is 417-217-4612.