Jay Faulkner recently received the award for firefighter of the year 2009 from the Woodfords Volunteer Fire Department.
Chief Buck McLelland said that "Jay is dedicated, energetic, and hard working. Last year he attended all the trainings and responded to over half of the calls. He is also a great cook."
After interviewing Faulkner, I better understand both his commitment to our community and why he was chosen among nearly two dozen outstanding citizens to receive this award.
Faulkner grew up in San Ramon and moved to Tahoe about 15 years ago, where he established his own business servicing and repairing hot tubs. About four years ago he moved to Woodfords because he loves the open spaces. His brother-in-law is a firefighter, his father was a sergeant in the Piedmont Police Department, but he didn't consider becoming a member of any fire department until Al Moss urged him to join the Woodfords Station.
"I had absolutely no background. The trainings provided by the department have been excellent. For example, our trainer, Brian Beadnell, was a leader in the Katrina aftermath and commanded groups after 9/11," Faulkner said.
Trainings are vital for our firefighters because "it is key to keep up on skills and have those constant refreshers. Regular active firemen go over procedures daily - pumps, medical procedures, safety - and we don't have that since we are volunteers. So it doesn't matter if a person has already been trained in an area, volunteers show up for trainings on the first and second Thursday of each month and one additional weekend monthly," Faulkner said.
Training each volunteer in every aspect of fire and rescue is doubly important for a volunteer group. The county dispatcher sends a call on a pager to all volunteers when help is needed at an accident, fire, or medical emergency. If only two volunteers are available, each fireman becomes an extension of the other, rotating jobs and filling whatever need is at hand.
"Each of us is our own chief at times and at other times we do the grunt work," Faulkner added.
He continued that, "Buck is the chief of the firehouse, and he is knowledgeable, safe, and we feel comfortable when he is in charge. But the same is true of all the volunteers.
"I feel that I represent very little without the whole group: we depend on each other on and off duty," he said. Faulkner values the camaraderie of the firefighters and respects their sense of community service.
"I am a firefighter because it is the right thing to do. I am lucky enough to have my own business that allows me to work early mornings, so I am available to answer more of the calls than other volunteers who have to work afternoons and evenings," he added.
A sense of humor is equally appreciated at the firehouse. Faulkner smiles when he describes his "firehouse family," and seems just as happy to cook a meal with Mike Gard for the firehouse family as to receive recognition for his service.
Woodfords Station has two major fundraisers, a Barn Dance in September and participation in the Death Ride in Alpine County: both of these events are staffed by the volunteers and their families. Funds are always an issue. Any contributions are gratefully accepted. Send your thank-you gift to Woodfords Fire Department, 60 Diamond Valley Road, Woodfords, CA 96120.
