It's been a tough year for Paulette Volunteer Firefighters.
The Paulette Volunteer Fire Department has overcome almost having to close its doors because of money problems, a summer accident that totaled a fire engine and now most recently, a fatal traffic accident, all within the past year.
"Money is always tight here. Unfortunately when we have accidents and our equipment malfunctions or injuries or things of that nature, it just combines the bad news and the bad items and makes it worse," says Assistant Fire Chief Matt Lovitt.
Lovitt says crews were going to a house fire Saturday afternoon when their efforts came to a crashing stop.
A man driving a pick up truck, 35-year-old Fredrick Rosenbalm of Andersonville, turned in front of them and slammed into the engine. He died on the scene.
Now that crew is trying to recover from the horrific accident.
"The driver is obviously shaken. The crew that was on the truck is shaken," Lovitt says.
Coincidentally, the wrecked engine is the same one that replaced the totaled one from the summer.
While the department is down one truck, firefighters from New Market have stepped in and donated a truck and a three man crew until Paulette is back on its feet.
"Surprisingly, other than the shock of knowing that someone was killed in the accident yesterday, morale stays good here. These guys, they live this, they breathe it, they believe in what they do," Lovitt explains.
The fire department is working with its insurance to assess the damage on the engine. In the meantime they want everyone in the area to know that they will continue to serve as normal and they remain at full staff.
