OAKLAND — The Oakland Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a Volunteer Fire Department Appreciation Day on Nov. 9 as a part of its annual fundraising activity for the fire department.
Mayor Stephanie Patterson presented Fire Chief Rich Ross with a proclamation adopted by the town board designating Nov. 9 as Volunteer Firefighter Appreciation Day in Oakland.
“Volunteer firefighters protect our lives, our families, and the economic life of our communities ... often at great personal sacrifice,” the mayor said. She praised the training and organization of the department while noting that the Oakland Fire Department responds to calls throughout the area, not just in Oakland. “The members of our fire department respond to approximately 100 calls in a typical year.”
This year, the Chamber conducted a raffle benefitting the fire department. Chamber Executive Director Sue Donohue Smith said final tabulations still have to be conducted, but she expects the final total to be more than $2,000. More than 24 items were donated by the Chamber board members and area merchants and friends of the Fire Department.
Firefighters include Chief Ross, Assistant Chief Leslie Doubleday, Charles Blaylock, Jake Clark, Josh Johnson, Joe Jenkins and Bailey Ross. Clark was recognized for having served 46 years as a fireman.
Chief Ross, who joined the department as a teenager, has served for 45 years. He said that his father helped found the volunteers. His son, Bailey, is now on the department and his 3-month-old grandson Sadler attended the appreciation ceremonies.
The department was founded in the 1970s under the leadership of then Mayor Roy Harold Ford with Rev. Buford Sellers, Baptist minister, as the first fire chief. The first new truck was a 1974 model.
In addition to the mayor, the town board was represented by Alderwoman Marzet Bland and Aldermen Terry Ellis and Bud Leland. Chamber Board President Mike Robinson conducted the raffle drawings with Vice President Timothy Booker and board members Riley Swearengen and Robert Reed in attendance.
