A Bubble Off Plumb

Tuesday, Feb. 14 is a very important day. Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day, but that isn’t what I’m talking about.

It’s election day. Ten years ago, the firefighters of Blaine County were working in out-of-date gear, driving worn out trucks to fires, if they had enough money to fuel the trucks to get to the fires. Well, maybe it wasn’t that bad, but it was a pretty bleak time to be a volunteer. And in those days, they were all volunteers.

Then the county voters passed a dedicated quarterof- a-cent sales tax for the departments. Now, that isn’t for each department. That’s split nine ways. And according to Jennifer Haigler, a volunteer firefighter for Eagle City, it was like Christmas, only different.

When the money started coming in, the departments could, with county commission approval, get new bunker gear so the firefighters could perform their duties as safely as possible. Old trucks could be gassed up and repaired as needed. Eventually newer trucks could be purchased or built, like the one in Watonga on an old Forestry Service frame. It carries manpower and equipment to wildland fires.

Haigler said without the dedicated funds, the recent fire near Homestead could not have been fought with local resources.

And as towns in Blaine County continue to cut their budgets, they are less and less able to help fund the departments. Eagle City isn’t even a city anymore, so the tax is its only resource.

The question Tuesday isn’t for a tax increase. It simply asks to extend the current funding source going forward. It also eliminates the sunset clause so the departments don’t have to continually go to the voters to extend the collections another couple of years.

This allows the chiefs to do some long-range planning. They’ll know when there is enough in the kitty to send volunteers to schools or buy new bunker gear or consider a new rig. They can update radios and other communication equipment.

This is windy, dry, brushy Oklahoma. We can’t afford to be without these (mostly) volunteers who roll out, night or day, to quench flames, assist at auto accidents and handle the controlled burns that get out of control.

And a quarter-of-a-cent is a very small price to pay. Get out and vote Yes.