Text 
No Comments [ Add Comment ]Rich volunteer / Tremonton resident spends 48 years putting out fires -- literally and figuratively
By KRISTINE SHAWKEYTREMONTON -- Carter Rich was born to be a firefighter and plans to be one until he dies.
For the past 48 years, Rich has given his time as a volunteer firefighter with Tremonton Fire Department.
His role has changed in his later years. Although he no longer fights the fires or operates as an emergency medical technician, his dedication to the community and department remains steady.
"I'll work for them until I die or they kick me out," Rich joked when asked about his plans for leaving.
"I was born a fireman. I grew up loving the fire department, and it's been almost 50 years and I still love it."
When Rich started his firefighting career, he said, he was just one of the people volunteering to help his community.
Rich said when the whistle at the station blew, he went no matter where he was. He worked for his family's business his first years as a volunteer, so it was easy for him to go to every call.
Now Rich's volunteering isn't in response to a whistle. He shows up at the station every day and puts himself to work.
"I come down, and if I see something that needs to be done, I do it -- which leaves me kind of doing everything," Rich said.
"If I didn't change the furnace filters, they'd never get changed. If there's been trouble with an ambulance, I'll try to get that taken care of. I try to keep all the windshields clean because that's a problem sometimes.
"I was in the cafe business, so I got stuck with making sure I got a good ice machine and taking care of it. There's a new air-compressor machine, and guess what, I'm in charge of that."
Rich understands the importance of taking care of the little things. It's something he's always done, and he feels what he does is a big help.
"I wish I could still go on a call, so I do the other stuff to make up for the things they can't do because they're working. I try to keep everything caught up for them," Rich said.
"I did a lot of the maintenance, too, when I started. I always took a job anybody didn't want. I think it's because my mother made me clean a lot of public restrooms and I did not like that."
In the daytime, when staffing can be short, Rich is always around to help.
"If there's not enough people, I'll step in and drive. Just because I don't have an EMT number anymore, I didn't go stupid."
Tremonton Fire Chief Steve Batis said Rich has helped build the full-service department into what it is today by helping over the years.
"Believe it or not, he keeps us younger guys under control. He's seen everything and has kept this place in line."
Rich said camaraderie and service are the reasons he is still at the station every day. He loves being able to help somebody who's in trouble.
He may be the only true volunteer firefighter left, he joked.
"I miss a day or two a year, but I try to be there every day. When I'm home, I'm there. I grew up in the days of volunteering, and I will never look for money to do this."
Batis said volunteers today receive money for the calls they respond to and are required to participate in weekly training. He said the money volunteers are paid is a drop in the bucket compared to the job.
"I've had men who have missed birthdays and weddings to help their community," Batis said.
"These volunteers are unique. People don't know about the sacrifices made until they need their help."
Royce Barton, of Paragonah, has been a fire chief for 28 years and works with all fire departments in Utah selling ambulances.
"Volunteer fire departments are in deep, deep trouble nationwide. The older people like Carter are a dying breed -- that's a dying generation," Barton said.
"The younger generation is working two jobs to make a house payment. Nowadays, time is thin and the old 'let's do it for the community' attitude is dying. It's a concern," he said.
"One day, volunteer departments like this will not exist. People like Carter Rich won't be around."
Add Your Comment
