I have silently watched this drama since November and know good people on both Alpena Township and Alpena City Fire Departments. I’ve witnessed politics wreak havoc on the veracity of people on both sides of this issue. However, I was truly outraged by Mr. Roorda’s editorial “comic.” I assure you that myself and others do not find it funny, appropriate or true.

If volunteer fire departments are merely “playing with trucks,” I invite Mr. Roorda to join anyone of the 745,000 volunteer firefighters nationwide for a week so that he can gain an understanding of what it means to “play with trucks.” Volunteers make up the majority of firefighters in this country (67% of all firefighters).

As a volunteer firefighter/medical first responder on two volunteer departments, I am ALWAYS on shift. Holidays, birthdays, 3 a.m… I don’t have the luxury of “clocking in” or “clocking out.” And I hold a full-time job that actually pays some bills.

In Michigan, requirements are practically the same for full-time or volunteer firefighters. Requirements include a Fire Academy encompassing 1,400 pages of text and many practical skills that must be mastered and demonstrated. If the firefighter is also a medical first responder, or emergency medical technician, they must attend a lengthy/in-depth class, and pass a comprehensive National Registry Test. These Requirements are the same whether you are a fulltime Firefighter or just “play with trucks.”

This “comic” is a complete disservice to volunteer members of fire departments everywhere. It insinuates that we are unprofessional “children” playing with expensive toys. Those “toy trucks” save houses, homes and lives. Perhaps Mr. Roorda should grow up, “stop playing with crayons,” step up and do a real service to the community as a volunteer firefighter or medical responder. It might just open his eyes.

MARK PALMER,

Spruce