Arbala VFD’s all-women rehab team provides crucial support

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  • (from left) Maggie Mae Sherrow, Debbie Schmidt, Barbara Bloodgood, Sheila Funderbunk and Amy Henderson pose with their rehab team equipment/ Courtesy Arbala VFD
    (from left) Maggie Mae Sherrow, Debbie Schmidt, Barbara Bloodgood, Sheila Funderbunk and Amy Henderson pose with their rehab team equipment/ Courtesy Arbala VFD
  • (from left) Amy Henderson and Barbara Bloodgood work a grassfire near Arbala/ Courtesy Arbala VFD
    (from left) Amy Henderson and Barbara Bloodgood work a grassfire near Arbala/ Courtesy Arbala VFD
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Not all firefighting jobs involve using a hose to put out water. Arbala Volunteer Fire Department has recently received recognition for one of its less-noticed roles, the rehabilitation team. With all female members, the ladies who travel all over the county to assist those actively combatting grass and structure fires say they’re not in it for the glory-- just to help their community. 

“I’m by no means an expert, and we’re all volunteers,” said rehab team coordinator Amy Henderson. “We work our schedules around and communicate so that when there’s a fire call and we’re available, we’re on it. We’re doing the best we can.” 

The team of six provides hydration, cooling, snacks and whatever type of support active duty firefighters may need. This often includes basic medical checks, Henderson said. 

“The other day I had a young man who was about to go into a blood sugar crisis,” Henderson noted. “Thankfully we caught it in time and got him some fluids and got some sugar and carbs into him. It can put a firefighter down quickly.”

“This time of year it’s unbearably hot, and I don’t know how our volunteers can stand there for that amount of time holding the hose on a fire,” she added. “People don’t realize these grass fires get hot.” 

Due to the quick ignition point of grass fires, temperatures can quickly reach up to 518 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the US Forest Service.

With Hopkins County temperatures reaching above 100 degrees in the previous week according to the National Weather Service and the bulky bunker gear that volunteers wear, those who battle fire are quickly at risk of losing valuable water due to evaporation, Station 17 Chief Brian Fairchild said. 

“They automatically go on all our fires, because it’s just so hot out,” Fairchild said. “They’re even willing to help out with other county departments.” 

Henderson says she may drive as many as 30 miles to a fire scene, as Hopkins County is so large. 

But, she says, the rehab team doesn’t do it for the recognition. 

“It’s about the passion we have for our community,” she said. “I don’t want anyone to think ‘oh, I’m too old or too weak to fight fire, so I can’t help.’ You can absolutely help, and we’d love to have you.”