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I live in Russell, a small White County community where our volunteer fire department doesn’t just fight fires; they are involved in just about everything. Over the years, my family has attended Easter egg hunts, block parties, cornhole tournaments, chili suppers and barbecue dinners with the Russell Volunteer Fire Department somewhere in the middle of it all. At Halloween, they’re handing out hot dogs at Trunk or Treat. Every summer, they put on a Fourth of July fireworks show that has become one of the most anticipated nights of the year.
For a town as small as Russell, these gatherings matter. They’re a chance to visit with neighbors, let the kids run around and spend an evening together. The fire trucks are usually part of the fun, too, with firefighters welcoming kids to look around, climb aboard and ask as many questions as they can think of.
While we all enjoy seeing the firefighters at events like these, we hope we never need the services they’ve trained for. But I’ve also seen the other side of what they do, and they do that well too. One Christmas Day, my mother-in-law had a small chimney fire. The Russell Volunteer Fire Department arrived quickly, brought it under control within minutes and kept a small fire from becoming something much worse.
Those two sides of the department may seem very different, but Fire Chief Robert Seigriest sees them as part of the same job.
“The Russell Volunteer Fire Department is the town’s backbone,” Seigriest said. “We try our hardest to always do whatever is asked of us. Whether it’s community functions or small things for the town itself, we tend to always show up.”
It’s a philosophy he ties directly to Russell’s town motto: Small Town, Big Heart.
Neighbors Answering the Call
Russell is just one example. There are volunteer fire departments across the state that are stepping up to serve their communities in similar ways, particularly in communities that don’t have the population or resources to maintain a large, full-time fire department.
But the word volunteer can make it easy to overlook who is actually answering those calls.
“We are everyday people,” Seigriest said. “We have full-time jobs and families just like everyone else. We do this voluntarily to help those around us.”
When an emergency call comes in, those volunteers may be at work, eating supper or spending a holiday with their families. They stop what they’re doing and respond because someone in their community needs help.
And fire isn’t the only emergency that can bring them out. Today’s volunteer departments may respond to vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, grass and brush fires, storm damage and other situations that require trained responders.
Seigriest has watched the job change over the years. “New types of emergencies have come about, and some types have faded. Equipment has upgraded, but the mission has always stayed the same. Serve and protect life and property.”
That mission is serious, but serving a community doesn’t always begin with a siren.
Photo by Julie Kohl
Bringing a Small Town Together
Fire Chief Seigriest is especially proud of the way his department brings people together through community events. The Russell VFD hosts and participates in numerous events throughout the year, many of which have become annual traditions in town. In places like Russell, the fire department is helping to keep old-fashioned, small-town traditions alive.
Of all the events the department participates in, one stands out to Seigriest.
“Our Fourth of July celebration every year,” he said when asked about something that reminds him why he volunteers. “The town looks forward to it, and we try our hardest to make it happen year after year. I do this for the town.”
And the town shows up. People make plans to be there. Families bring their kids, and the town park becomes like a family reunion. Kids are climbing the playground while spontaneous games of football and soccer pop up on the lawn. Kids are fueled by cotton candy and lemonade while the adults catch up with friends and neighbors around the perimeter.
Then everyone looks up for a fireworks show that’s surprisingly impressive for a celebration organized by a handful of volunteers. But that is what makes it special. For Russell, it’s become a tradition, and behind it are volunteers willing to put in the work to make sure it happens again next year.
Small Town, Big Heart
Russell’s volunteer fire department isn’t unique. Across Arkansas, volunteer fire departments respond when their neighbors need help, but they also help create the traditions that keep small communities connected.
Living in Russell has given me the chance to see both sides. I’ve watched our firefighters organize events that bring the town together, welcome curious kids onto the fire trucks and put in countless hours behind the scenes. I’ve also watched them show up on Christmas Day when my own family needed them.
Chief Seigriest calls the Russell Volunteer Fire Department the town’s backbone and says they strive to serve the community and show up when neighbors need them. It’s a fitting description for a department that takes Russell’s motto, “Small Town, Big Heart,” seriously.
Photos courtesy of the Town of Russell and the Russell Volunteer Fire Department unless otherwise noted.
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