Ok DU, I've been given permission by my station Captain to post on this site,

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. Just to let you know...

I live in a real community, in a small town.
We have volunteer firefighters, volunteer rescue, only the police are paid,and not very much compared to bigger cities.
We even have volunteer pilots who use their own planes and fuel when needed.

These guys are surprisingly busy for a town of 6,000.
3-4 x a week we hear the sirens, and then read of people being pulled from car wrecks, and sometimes more sadly, people being retrieved who died in a house fire.
When the hurricanes hit, every able bodied male grabs a chainsaw, rescues folks trapped in their houses, even collects animals when possible.
Volunteer rescue carried my elderly neighbor to the hospital in a crisis, I was there, and had called them when I found her needing help. They were so respectful and gentle and caring, it moved me deeply.

I wish it were in my power to erase the insensitive thoughtless words of some callous people in the thread you referenced.