A first responder and the mayor of New-Wes-Valley says the concept of volunteering is being “stretched to the limits” when it comes to the expectations placed on some volunteer firefighters in the face of drawn-out events.

Mike Tiller says some organizations are providing incentives to get people to sign up to offer their services for a service or event, but for municipalities seeking the services of volunteer firefighters, it’s different.

He says volunteer fire departments are facing challenges like never before. While most volunteer firefighters know what they’re signing up for, many are relied upon to go above and beyond.

He cites the recent fire bearing down on Musgrave Harbour as just one example.

“When you see what the town of Musgrave Harbour just went through, those firefighters spent the better part of a full week, rotating shifts, sleeping on mattresses in their firehall. They’re town was evacuated, and they were the only ones left in their town…and basically they were sat there waiting for the fire to come in and destroy their town. That’s got to be a tremendous burden on them.”

He suggests that the federal and provincial governments work with NL Fire Services and municipalities to put something in place in extraordinary circumstances.

“They put their town’s wellbeing ahead of their own,” says Tiller “and to me that goes far and beyond your typical volunteer. there’s certainly no swag bag for these guys at the end of all this.”