Cortez Fire District Chief Jeff Vandevoorde approached his colleagues with the idea of hiring a chaplain after recognizing the importance of the position.
My concern is for our members to have somebody in case something does happen, Vandevoorde said. Like any piece of equipment, when you need it, you need it. I think a chaplain is so important for our members.
Vandevoorde had a chaplain work with his district when he was a firefighter in Illinois.
I remember an incident where we had a minivan get hit by a truck. Four people got killed, and it was devastating. They had to amputate a ladys legs to get her out of the car, and it took a couple hours just to get her out of the car. And it was so hard on the guys. And it was so nice to have somebody there to talk to even though were big and strong and stuff it takes a toll on us, Vandevoorde said.
Chaplaincy is a service provided to first responders that includes offering funeral services, counseling and spiritual and emotional support.
After Vandevoorde met Rob Hall, a preacher with the Cortez Church of Christ who has a masters in religious studies and is working on a doctor of ministry, he knew hed found a chaplain for his new fire protection district.
I think its well deserved, Vandevoorde said of Halls appointment. Hes been welcomed by this department. And hes going to be a big part of this department.
Hall is taking the position seriously.
I think theres a need here that I might be able to fill, Hall said. Are there more qualified people? Probably, I dont know. Im honored that they allow me to hang around them and be there.
Hall admits hes green, but hell be doing his best to learn on the job and train for it when he can. Hes attending a 16-hour course in central California later in January to help him get started.
This training is helping me establish myself and getting my mind wrapped around the whole concept of chaplaincy, Hall said. What is my task? How do I fit in? How do I minister in a way thats beneficial and not detracting and honoring what they do?
Its like Chaplaincy 101, Hall said. And the training will help him maintain skills, learn new things about different situations, such as suicides, car wrecks, domestic situations and fires. Hell also be meeting other chaplains from around the region at the class in California.
Itll be good to rub elbows with those guys and talk to them about what they do and how they perceive their work their ministry.
Besides attending the course in California, Hall attended a citizens fire academy in Cortez.
Hall said attending the academy has been an awesome experience. It opened his eyes to the elite level of training firefighters go through, the dangers they face and the emotional stress, as well as the physical stress, their jobs can cause.
Id highly encourage anybody to attend the citizens fire academy to walk in the shoes of a firefighter for a few hours. Theyre gonna have one or two more this year, he said of the classes. The next citizens fire academy will likely be held in the spring.
I reacted with a new and heightened appreciation for what these men and women do, as they fight a fire and try to protect people and property, Hall said.
I want to honor what they do, he said while musing about what his new job as chaplain will be like and what he hopes to accomplish.
Im kind of in a spiritual triage, a spiritual crisis intervention person, he said. Just like when the EMS and firefigthers are on the scene for that moment. They stabilize and turn a civilian over to the hospital personnel. Once they turn them over, their task is over, but they were there for that moment.
And Hall will be there for that moment when first responders need to lean on him.
Im around for the personnel if they need me, because they have stresses that you cant take home and talk to other people about, Hall said. And I transfer care to other preachers and pastors in town. But Im there for that moment ... Im there in presence.
Hall plans on attending first-responder training, while continuing to pursue a doctorate in ministry, to help him gain insight and better relate with his firefighters.
Cortezs firefighting staff is a new and growing department. They received more than 1,550 emergency 911 calls throughout 2011. Its a number that has been steadily rising.
Were still in a development phase of figuring out what were going to do, and how were going to do it, and how were going to develop this area. Its all kind of new. And were still learning how to walk, basically, in that sense, Hall said.
Hall ultimately hopes his presence and the knowledge he can gain as a chaplain can help not only the firefighters and their families but victims and their families, too.
He takes a lot off our plates. Hes able to talk to the families, the relatives, when were trying to do a big part of our job, Vandevoorde said.
Hall said hes used to being proactive when he teaches and preaches for the Cortez Church of Christ. But his job as a chaplain is different.
I dont say a word a lot of times, but Im there with you. Thats kind of the way I see my task share a little bit of the burden journey with them, but Im there. Im present as much as possible.
Above all, Hall said, his new position has taught him to revere the firefighting protection district.
Im honored to be with them and see what they do, Hall said. Its given me a brand new appreciation of what they risk, theyre loyalty to each other and to this community. I think this community is fortunate to have these caliber people.