Dear Neighbors,

We write today with updates from 411 Main Road, where our 20-some members—your first responders—come together to do the community work we love. As you know, this annual appeal letter is when we ask for your support. But it’s been a long time since our last letter, so let’s begin with news.

We have two new members:

In other member news, Monterey Firefighter Kyle Hutson graduated from Elms College last year with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. When he’s not working at Hartford Hospital, Kyle is the RN on our roster. Keegan Wellauer first came to us through our Junior Firefighter Program and is now a full-time firefighter and paramedic in Maine. Even so, he continues to help us here with our paperwork, and when he’s visiting family in Monterey, he reliably turns out for emergency calls. Thank you for all you do, Keegan.

We have other new faces around here, too. Indeed, something rather extraordinary has occurred in Monterey in recent years. With advocacy from Chief Tryon, the Select Board has filled the Monterey Highway Department with talented people who also happen to be firefighters. Jim Hunt, Tyler Collins, and Kyle Pettibone were all trained by the esteemed Lee Fire Department. What that means for Monterey is that on most weekdays, our town has a crackerjack crew that can pivot from municipal duties to emergency response. This exceptionally fortunate turn of events has filled a huge hole in our daytime coverage.

Speaking of coverage, since January 2019, we have sharpened our 24/7 rapid emergency response thanks to a new shift program. Most evenings at 5:30 p.m. two Fire Company members enter the station for the night. They respond to routine calls, conduct training exercises, complete station chores, and hopefully get some sleep. The program has improved response times and, no less important, allowed members at home to rest until they are really needed. With more recruitment and training, we hope to be able to muster a shift crew every night.

Who Are We?

Like you, members of the Monterey Fire Company lead busy lives. We are townspeople—your neighbors. The Fire Company includes farmers, highway workers, the town librarian, a veterinarian, a blacksmith, a nurse, a carpet cleaner, laborers, students, and that new guy, the visual-effects artist. Each of us has committed to train, serve, and put our lives on hold when our pagers sound the alarm. We have pledged ourselves to firefighting and lifesaving—your life, your house, our town.

Incidents included medical emergencies, structure fires, search-and-rescue, car accidents, and home checks. Your home is always here, even when you’re not. We keep an eye on it for you.

When we train, we drill extensively to memorize operating procedures for many emergency scenarios. But you know what else we do? We talk at length about being empathetic neighbors. We protect lives and we also take care of those on the other end of the emergency call. We safeguard your home, photo albums, family heirlooms, and irreplaceable treasures.

Among the recent “saves” was a historic former church. Responding to a fire in Southfield with the New Marlborough Fire Company, we pulled up to a home engulfed in flames. It sadly was beyond saving, but we discovered the heat had set the adjacent church afire. We forced our way in and doused flames high in the smoke-filled nave. Outside, we used our ladder truck to access the bell tower to snuff out hot spots with precision care. The church otherwise would have been destroyed.

That kind of commitment has earned the Monterey Fire Company a longstanding reputation throughout the region for skill, expertise, and leadership. This has been our particular way of serving our community.

Founded as an ad hoc volunteer effort, the Monterey Fire Company is today a professional organization guided by state and federal regulations. We constantly train to master new tactics and we meet stringent requirements for first-responder certification.

Our stated purpose is to safeguard life and property. Running a fire company to our highest standards takes an ever-increasing commitment in time, training—and dollars.

Now the Nitty-Gritty

It has been several years since we reached out for your financial support. We do so now for a very simple reason: The Fire Company cannot make ends meet without annual donations from Monterey residents. But why do we need to ask for your donation when the town budget already contributes to emergency services in Monterey?

It’s because of a distinction you’ve heard before, but one that can be confusing. The Monterey Fire Department is a town department (like the Highway Department) that uses tax revenues to buy equipment (fire trucks, turnout gear, air tanks) and pay for firefighter wages.

The Monterey Fire Company is us—we the firefighters—and as members we own the buildings, grounds, and on-site training facilities at 411 Main Road. In other words, the Fire Company bears the financial responsibilities of property ownership. We pay for utilities, maintenance, upkeep, and long-term capital improvements. And the Fire Company’s budget is funded solely by contributions. An important one comes from the town, which this year gave the Fire Company a disbursement of $47,000. But that doesn’t close the gap, so our members raise additional funds through the annual appeal letter and the Steak Roast.

To get to the nitty gritty, the Fire Company’s utility bills alone run from $40,000 to $50,000 annually. To cover these costs plus building repairs, we must raise $50,000 this year in addition to the town’s contribution. The most pressing immediate maintenance issues include resurfacing the tarmac, finishing the siding, and equipping our half-finished kitchen. Necessary but unfunded long-term capital improvements include deferred repairs to our on-site training facilities and aging pavilion—home to Monterey’s municipal ice rink and town gatherings.

Again, these expenses can be paid only through ongoing contributions. The town’s annual disbursement is essential, but it won’t close the gap, let alone account for the future.

And the future is much on our minds these days. Ninety-three years after the first Monterey firefighters organized, we are taking stock, looking ahead, and making plans to keep this remarkable organization running. You will soon hear more about our new prudential committee composed of citizens and company members. It will recommit the Monterey Fire Company to a long-term sustainable vision as we enter our second century of service.

For now, all we’re asking is for every household to support our Annual Appeal. Doing so will ensure that Monterey’s life-saving and firefighting services will be there when you need them. Please support your Fire Company. Return the enclosed envelope with your check to the Monterey Fire Company LTD. The Monterey Fire Company is a 501 (c) (3) organization and, as such, any financial donation is fully tax deductible. 

Thank you for your continued support. As always, we look forward to seeing you at the Steak Roast on Saturday July 29.

Sincerely,

Shawn Tryon, Chief

Mail checks to: Monterey Fire Company, PO Box 99, Monterey, MA 01245

Recruitment

Your Monterey Fire Company is looking for firefighter trainees and civilian volunteers.

Qualified firefighter recruits for emergency response will be energetic and self-motivated. The Fire Company provides all training for lifesaving and firefighting skills. Above all, we need people who are willing and ready to work hard. We have a strong tradition of self-critique, so recruits must be receptive to constructive feedback. We’re also seeking civilian volunteers who aren’t interested in emergency response but have supplementary skills, such as accounting, administration, record-keeping, or events organizing.

Send inquiries to montereyfireco@gmail.com.