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 Dave and Shari Beals of Merna have been active in the volunteer fire department and EMS squad for more than 20 years, and were instrumental in the building of a new fire hall in Merna.
By ELLEN MORTENSEN
Chief Assistant Editor
MERNA -- Anytime residents of the Merna and Anselmo area are in need of emergency services, whether it be fire or rescue, Dave and Shari Beals are likely to be on the scene.
For more than 20 years, the couple has been an active fixture in the Fire/EMS departments at Merna. Dave joined the fire department in 1986, and has served as the fire chief for the past six years.
Shari became an EMT and joined the rescue squad in 1988, and became a member of the fire department about 10 years ago. Even though the positions are totally voluntary, it is a job that both husband and wife take very seriously.
Both Dave and Shari are natives of the Merna area and graduates of Anselmo-Merna High School. They know most of the people here - they are friends, neighbors and family. When they get a call, there is a good chance they will know the person involved, and that is what drives both of them.
Dave joined the fire department after being approached by a member he knew and asked to attend a meeting.
“I’ve been here ever since,” he laughs. “For me, it’s the satisfaction of getting out and being able to help people. And sometimes it’s exciting!
“It kind of becomes your hobby,” Dave continued. “I don’t do it for the paycheck. You have to just enjoy it.”
The couple was married in 1981, and by the mid-80s had little ones to care for - including a set of twins. Trying to balance home life, work and a new commitment to the fire department was a challenge at times.
Shari became an EMT much the same way Dave became a fireman - someone asked. The squad was in need of personnel, and when Shari was approached by a member of the squad she decided to check it out. She says once she started, she discovered how much she really enjoys going out and helping people.
“She won’t tell people, but she is very good at talking to the people and keeping them calm,” Dave interjected. “She is a very good EMT.”
The first of the year Shari took over as president of the Merna rescue service. With more than 400 square miles in the district the EMS serves, it is no small task. The squad averages approximately 40-50 calls per year.
Shari says it is still a struggle to find EMTs. The class requirements have changed considerably since she did it 20 years ago.
“It’s something you have to really want to do, and you have to be dedicated,” said Shari. “There is an amount of burn-out and turnover on the EMS squad. So I am always trying to come up with new ways to keep people excited about being an EMT. Every small community really needs this service.”
There are currently 18 members on the squad; 13 from Merna and 8 from Anselmo. Six first responders will be added to the squad May 1.
“Some of our members live out in the country, so if a call comes in from that direction they can respond directly to the scene,” Shari explained.
About 10 years ago Shari was approached again. This time it was for the fire department.
“I joined the fire department because they were having a hard time finding people during the day,” she explained.
At one time Shari was one of three women on the department. One of them has since left. Dave says none of the men had a problem with women joining the department, and says they were just glad to have the help.
The Merna fire department is also glad to have something else - a new fire hall. The department was able to move in to their new building a couple of weeks before Christmas.
Dave says the rural fire board came to the realization that something drastic needed to be done with the Merna fire hall about five years ago.
“The old hall was suffering from major structural issues,” Dave explained. “And there just was not enough space.”
After examining the options, the board decided trying to fix up the old hall was not a good plan and the best option would be to start over. The Merna department held regular meetings to discuss what the members thought they needed in a new fire hall.
They did their homework, even measuring all the trucks and coming up with design plans that would meet their needs. Dave then took those plans and suggestions to the fire board.
About two years ago, the project came together when a piece of property that would accommodate the department’s design became available.
“That was the last thing to fall into place. We had the design, now we just needed a place to put it,” said Dave.
Once the property was acquired, bids were solicited and the board began meeting with contractors. By early January 2008, final plans were fairly firm.
However, in the time it took to make the plans and award a bid prices on everything had gone up. The department was also made aware of several laws and regulations governing the new building that had to be met - all at a cost.
“You always think you can get it done for less than it ends up costing,” Dave laughed.
The Rural Fire District issued a bond for $370,000 for 20 years, to cover the full cost of the new building. Dave says with only a little concrete work left to complete, the project has come in very close to budget.
The new hall gives the department much more room than they had previously, allowing them to spread out their equipment for easier viewing and training.
“We can open all the doors on the trucks and see everything now,” Shari exclaimed. “Everything has it’s own place now - it’s nice!”
In the old hall, a truck had to be pulled out so tables could be set up for meetings. The new hall has a room with a kitchen and lots of tables for meetings. Dave says when it comes to recruiting new members, having the new hall sure doesn’t hurt.
When Shari joined the fire department she brought some of her EMS skills with her. Dave says she has been instrumental in incorporating CPR certification into the department, and all members now maintain their certification.
The department also now has two AED (automated external defibrillator) units that are kept on the fire trucks. Those were obtained through a grant, which also paid for the department members to train in using the units.
Dave and Shari are committed to keeping the Merna fire department and EMS a viable part of their community. They have maintained an active role in those departments, while raising four children. Their son-in-law is now a member of the fire department, and their youngest son, who has a physical handicap, has a huge interest in EMS. He will graduate from Anselmo-Merna High School next month, and plans a career in emergency management.
The couple says the fact that both are involved has its advantages.
“It makes it easier to understand what each other deals with,” said Shari.
“It is really exciting and a lot of fun,” Dave added. “But I tell my guys there are times when this will be the worst job you ever had. This is a little community, and we generally know the people. That can make it very hard.”
“I really like the brotherhood, or sisterhood, of the department,” Shari said. “It’s like a second family. We have a good group of guys and gals.”
Though the job is demanding and has its ups and downs, both Dave and Shari say they are committed to assisting their community for a long time. |
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