This short documentary from The Grasslands Project shows how small rural communities rely on volunteer firefighters to handle most emergencies. While the Eastend Fire Department responds to its share of barn and grass fires, they are only a call away from tragedy. Rural first responders are usually first on the scene of grisly farm and motor vehicle accidents, and in a small community the victims are often friends and family. The toll it takes on these volunteers creates its own tragedy.
Warnings: Fire consumes farm building; arrival on scene of a car crash; discussion about PTSD and some of what first responders have to witness.
Short documentary showing rural, Volunteer Eastend Fire Department, the sacrifice of taking care of the community and the toll it takes on the volunteers. Identify the psychological pressures faced by the firefighters, how they confronted those pressures, and how they overcame them. Compare and contrast the nature of the firefighter’s job in a rural setting versus an urban setting. What factors account for the difference in monetary compensation?