Face coverings are something that firefighters are used to, when entering a smoke or fire-fueled scene. Right now, protecting themselves is even more of a priority during a time where there's a virus with no vaccine.

Events that bring in money for protective equipment and other operating necessities are being canceled due to Covid-19 concerns, so where does that leave money needed to operate?

Pete Hackett grew up just steps away from the Centerville Fire Department. He was 13 when he started in the fire department.

Hackett says, "Well, back then. it was the only thing there was to do. (laugh)" Its Centerville. There ain't a whole lot going on here."

Hackett was the first of what turned into five other immediate family members joining the department, adding, "Back then the rules were a lot different. I could do most anything except go inside a burning building."

Response times remain the same, but 2020 has forced departments to respond differently to their firefighting needs.

Tina Kuhn is the Treasure for the Centerville Fire Department.

"We always have our spring gun raffle. our fall gun raffle, strawberry festival. those are our top three," Kuhn says.

Two of those top three major events have been canceled.
The fall gun raffle is still planned, at least for now.

Certain months mean wing nights, putting the department kitchen to use
and backyard fryers, to make 22 cases per wing event.

Kuhn says, "They bring in anywhere between 2-3,000 thousand dollars."

I'm told uniforms alone are roughly $3500 , and changed out every 3 to 5 years.

Plus: with no money coming in from rentals at $300 per party at the fire hall, "events"... are key to the revenue stream.

So is the community.

Kuhn says, "This year we did do a letter. sent out a letter asking for donations because of everything canceled and that letter has been a great success."

So successful, since it went out in early July, about $2500 has come in with hopes of more.

Donations in different forms, too, like homemade blankets and furniture as prizes for different fundraisers.

But the ambulance pays most all the bills.

Jodi Greer is the Centerville Ambulance Chief. She says, the call volume is down because everybody is afraid of the pandemic. So, unless they are super bad when we get there, a lot of them refuse to go to the hospital.

Cleaning has now intensified more than ever. It is safety for people transported *and the EMT's called out.

Both Centerville Fire and EMS are all volunteer.

Greer says, "We do have some of the volunteers that have little ones that we don't want going on the calls. We don't want them going into an environment where they can bring that back to a little one. "

There is some good news though during this pandemic. Just in early July, the Centerville ambulance truck was paid off. So now, any money coming in from calls the department goes out on, goes right into the departments fund.
And that's important to also being there, for others.

Assistant Chief Pete Hackett says, "We have a good working relationship with the other fire departments around us. Gotta relay on each other because that's just how it is, anymore."

The assistant chief admits the Centerville and surrounding communities are older communities. That makes recruitment in the department, hard, and the future, unknown.
A merger? Possibly.

Hackett says he just absolutely has no idea what's gonna happen.

If you want to help the department, mark your calendar for September 19. That's the next wing night at the Centerville Fire Department. Wings go fast and ordering ahead by calling the fire department at (814) 581-1010 is encouraged. 

There will also be a corn-hole tournament that same day.