Serve Students' service puts lives on Ifne J umors Koby Feather and Russ Gray faced some responsibilities that the average college student did not have to worry about. \Vhile most students' anxieties were turning in assignments or papers on time or s'luec7ing in enough study time right before a big rest, Feather and Gray's job as volunteer ftre6ghterscaused them to be on call24/7, ready to drop whatever they were doing at a moments notice when needed. Feather, part of a three-generation firefighcing family with his father and grandfather, had been a volunteer firefigtucr for over seven years. Both Feather's father and grandfarher were on the unit he joined. He started going with his father seven years ago and then officially became a member twO years latct. Gray had been a firefighter for over three years. Gray started Out with the Progress Fire Department in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He volunteered there until he moved and came to Harding. ''My interest in firefighting sooted in my senior year of high school when 1 felt a calling and desire to do more with my life and serve my community tI,e best I could," Gray said. After coming to Harding, both Feather and Gray hecanle volwueers at Southeast \V'hite County Fire and Rescue Department (SEWCO) in Griffithville, Arkansas. Since the SEWCO department was soldy volunteer run, they were both on call all the time. \X1hile not having fires to fight would generally be a good thing, Gray said the waiting in between calls could be a tough part of the job. "[MyJ least favorite part of the job is the waits for calls, and the down time that comes with those wairs," he said. But for Feather and Gray, the benefits of the job greatly overshadowed any downsides that came with it. "'F!refighcing is a hard but I.'e\vardingjob," Feather said. ''You're able to do something good for others. Most of the Christian firefighters I know see firefighting as a way to imitate Christ. We are sacrificing our well-being to help save others." Gray acknowledged that there was a need for this kind of service despite the risk that it entailed. "1r's a job that is known for its danger. and someone needs to go out and do it because tIlere are not a lot of people tl,at want to go do it," Gray said. "1 t's nice to know that people out there appreciate what we do as volunteer firefighters." One of the biggest things that continued to inspire both Feather and Gray was the bond of brotherhood with those whom they served a1ongsklc. Though Feadler initially became a firefighter because of his father and grandfather, he also found reasons of his own. "The excitement and d,e bonds you make with the adler members is one of the reasons I stayed," he said. Closely associated with the excitement from firefighting was the element of danger. Feather recalled some particularly dangerous instances he experienced during responses to calls. "\'{Ie were fighting a house fire and the house was gone when we arrived, so our main job was to keep it from spreading," Feather said. "\'{!e thought we had the fire contained until it breached and headed for a large propane tank. A couple of us got hoses and kept the fire at bay till it died down. I f the tank had exploded while we were that dose, we would ha\'c died or been snerdy injured." "While [being a firefighter] is a big responsibility. it carries little effect on your life until you're called. Then it is no longer about school but about people." Freohrnan Zachary LooJon N08h Darnell An incident Feather remembered also involved a house fire. "[My dad and 1] were on the roof of the house trying co cut holes to let the smoke oue so the men inside could see bettcr," he said. "\X1hile we were up there, the fire inside the house shifted and burned some the supportS that wc were standing on. We fdt the roof move, and we were able to gCt off quickly before we were hurt." Both Feather and Gray said they planned to continue their service as fircfighters while also juggling the life of a student. Though their job had not yet interrupted any class time or sleep. it always remained a possibility. 'We haven't had to run any calls during the day or in the middle of the night since I joined [SEWCO]," Gray said. ''But if dlere were to be a call at any of those times, I would be ready to respond as quickJy as I could." Joseph Dickerson and Emily Hauptli "I think it's awesome that Koby is a fi16fghter; I'm very proud of him. "J.ra PJIysoo Gedden. Nick Michael Junior Koby Feather and sophomore Russ Gray spray water on a G'lffithvile. Ail< fire O::;t 26 WrIe m duty, tre fmli;Jhters w;re calOO 10 800m IuJse fife n the aroo Courtesy of Koby Feather Juniors Koby Feather and Allyson Gladden reiax at tt€ Super 80M boNIng EIej I\bv 3 The MO ....,t to watch It'e< foords Cffi'(J€te '" tre M:lrday roghl baMrg <lag'" Nick Michael Following through on his release, sq:Jh:::m::le Russ Gray t::o.Ms at the Searcy Super 80M I\bv 3. i\.b'1g'Mlh oorg a fi reli;Jhl er, Oay was also irM)\.ed In a toMirg 83gL..e am V'YO'kEd as an escat fa' Harding Pubic Safety Nick Michael Sophomore Russ Gray tests the fre h-,drants O:::t. 26 in Glfflth\lle. Ark Ths was ore of his rootre CUes 00ng 'Mtn berg a "<81 resporder. ~ ard corroct'rg rose rns ard respordrg 10 alarms Courtesy of Koby Feather sophomores 103
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