Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue is updating one of its most rural fire stations with the help of the church across the street.
The associate pastor at Rose Valley Friends Church, Nathaniel Vanderploeg, said churchgoers didn’t hesitate when asked to help fix the Rose Valley station’s sign this fall.
Vanderploeg said a church member who is an electrician found the issues with the sign and located the parts to fix it on Oct. 2. Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue reports the sign’s marque was glowing bright by the following day.
The church’s help is part of Vanderploeg goal to bring the Rose Valley community together, and Cowlitz 2’s goal to ensure the unincorporated area’s safety.
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Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Lt. Bryan Ditterick places a bag on the shelf at Station 24 on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Kelso. The station recently reorganized to clear out the fire engine bay, and plan to one day include paid staff at the all-volunteer site.
Updates, recruitment
Rose Valley is an unincorporated area east of Kelso that includes 5,457 people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, with the median age of about 45.
Cowlitz 2 reports it regularly needs at least six Rose Valley residents to assist at the station.
The fire station at 1436 Rose Valley Rd. relies on volunteers because the department reports it doesn’t have the funds to staff the facility.
Despite having no fulltime staff, the station still receives about 360 emergency calls a year.
The Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Rose Valley Station 24 sign, captured on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Kelso. Rose Valley Friends Church, across the street from the station, recently repaired the station's sign.
Eventually, officials plan for the station to be staffed by paid firefighters.
That’s why the department plans to add a modular home to provide living quarters and space for administration by early 2025, said Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue spokesperson Lt. Bryan Ditterick.
Today, there are no sleeping quarters at the station, which is mostly used to store equipment.
Other stations, like station 25 in Lexington on West Side Highway and Station 22 on Ocean Beach Highway, each have 10 rooms and are staffed 24-7.
In addition to fixing the sign, Ditterick said other updates to the Rose Valley station occurred during the late summer as well.
Crews cleared expired equipment from the station, reorganized the storage area in the station bays, and upgraded the indoor and outdoor lighting. Items stored at the facility include personal protective equipment and items used during events to educate the public, like during fire prevention week.
Volunteers
Today, Ditterick said the entire department has at least 40 volunteers, with 16 interested in serving Rose Valley.
Capt. Mike Ellis is the volunteer coordinator for Cowlitz 2.
He said the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners launched a membership drive about two months ago to recruit more volunteer firefighters.
Vacant space next to Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Rose Valley Station 24, captured on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Kelso. The space may be developed into living quarters for firefighters in the future.
Volunteering starts with community meetings where people can submit applications, followed by an interview process and a multi-month training, which includes the same teachings career firefighters receive.
Ellis said volunteer firefighters work hours-long shifts every day throughout the department.
Ditterick said volunteers carry a device, like a pager, and upon receiving a call, go to a station to collect necessary gear.
Spreading the word
Rose Valley Friends Church members often pitch in.
“Our church has a long history of involvement with the fire station,” Vanderploeg said. “Several years ago, many people from (Rose Valley Friends Church) volunteered (as firefighters) there.”
Vanderploeg said it has been common for members to leave mid-service during Sunday worship to respond to emergency calls.
In 2018, Vanderploeg said the church launched an event called Rose Valley Day with Rose Valley Elementary School, Rose Valley Grange and the fire station to rekindle local relationships.
A truck parks at Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Rose Valley Station 24 on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Kelso.
Then in September the church started weekly “prayer walks,” which includes asking local entities like the Rose Valley station what they need.
Vanderploeg said the church was told the station was in need of volunteers, so after praying and the station’s open house, more signed up.
Such collaboration is part of being a good neighbor, he added.
“In the spirit of loving our neighbors,” he said, “we want to empower the organizations in our corner and in our community, like Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, by participating however we can, including helping get word out about their needs.”
