09/23/2026
A Thankless Job. A Selfless Calling.
There are men and women living right here in our community who lead ordinary lives, just like the rest of us. They have jobs to work, families to raise, bills to pay, ballgames to attend, and churches to serve in. Their days are filled with the same responsibilities, commitments, and precious moments as everyone else’s.
But when the tones drop, everything changes.
Work is put on hold. Plans are interrupted. Families are told goodbye. And without knowing exactly what awaits them, they answer the call.
Today, the men and women of the Gore Fire Department and RFPD 1 gave us a powerful example of what it means to serve.
Around 3 o’clock this afternoon, the tones dropped for a structure and wildland fire amid extremely dry and windy conditions. Without hesitation, volunteers left their jobs, stepped away from their families, and set aside whatever they had planned to respond to a call for help.
As I sit here at one of our stations tonight, more than six hours later, the last few engines are still out mopping up the fire. While much of the community has settled in for the evening, these men and women are still out there working.
Six hours of their day. Six hours away from their families. Six hours of sacrifice, not for recognition or applause, but because someone needed help.
And this is just one call.
What many people don’t see are the countless hours spent training, the weekends given up to attend classes, the family dinners interrupted, the sleepless nights, and the holidays spent answering calls instead of making memories at home.
And perhaps what makes this sacrifice even more remarkable is that these men and women are 100% volunteers. They receive no paycheck for their service. They give their time freely, asking for nothing in return.
They do it because they have a heart for service. Because when someone is experiencing what may be the worst day of their life, they want to be there to help.
It’s a calling that often goes unnoticed. A sacrifice that is rarely seen in its entirety. And a commitment that deserves far more appreciation than words can ever express.
To every member of the Gore Fire Department and RFPD 1: Thank you.
Thank you for the hours you give, the sacrifices you make, and the dedication you show to becoming better equipped to serve our community. Thank you to your families, who share in that sacrifice every time you walk out the door, never knowing exactly when you’ll return.
Your service does not go unnoticed, and your sacrifices are not forgotten.
It is an honor to serve alongside you.
When the tones drop, you answer. When our community calls, you show up. And for that, we thank you and salute you!
