Lyle Airey honored for 50 years of service to Albion Fire Department (2024)

Lyle Airey is a humble person who just did what was needed as a volunteer to help his community. Lyle found a role within the volunteer fire department of Albion in 1974 and stayed with it. He specifically helped by lending his time and energy to assist at fires, emergency medical calls, vehicle accidents and other associated duties.

The current Albion Fire Chief, Aaron Betts, gave Airey his first plaque inscribed from the Albion Fire Dept. The second award, a Meritorious Service Award, was presented by Marshalltown Fire Chief Christopher Cross. This award also noted 50 years of commitment as a volunteer firefighter.

Volunteer fire departments across the United States are a vital part of a huge network of people that are willing at all hours of the day or night, in all kinds of weather good and bad, to help their fellow man when help is needed. Firefighters and first responders can typically be the first on scene when troubling situations happen.

It is a service that is many times underappreciated but sure nice to have when a disaster or accident takes place. Volunteer fire departments help save lives and save property.

PHOTO VIA T-R ARCHIVES Airey, pictured in his younger years, was photographed responding to the “Trade Home Fire” in Marshalltown back in the late 1970s, which became a famous image around the Albion Fire Department office.

Doug Betts, a former Albion Fire Chief, noted how times have changed over the decades. A long time ago the volunteer fire department had, by today’s standards, crude and unreliable equipment.

It was not uncommon that at a fire a literal bucket brigade of passing water pails was used. Soon after motorized items like trucks began to be used to hold a large water tank.

These vehicles had to be kept inside a heated building so the water would not freeze during cold winters. Equipment upgrades were and still are an ongoing need. Needless to say, rural fire departments have come a long way.

Volunteers of the past while sometimes working on the farm, at a city job site, or at local businesses would drop everything if they heard the town civil defense sirens blasting their loud call. When they got to the station, the phone operator could tell the crew where the situation was located. Off the crew would go to help as best they could.

Equipment to notify volunteers went from fire phones in area resident houses, to pagers and now digital contact systems to volunteer using cell phones. Faster response times was the goal since emergencies dictate how important time is to reduce injuries or treat situations before the matter becomes more hazardous.

Through every situation that any rural fire department volunteer may encounter, the vital link is a human being, lots of them, to step up and say “How can I help?” Every rural or small town fire department struggles to get, keep and train people to be part of an efficient team.

It is difficult in these modern times to have people offer their time and commitment to serve. Some employers are reluctant to have workers leave work to respond to a home town fire call. Employers may not have the flexibility, even if they would like to, to allow time off for employees when the business needs for full staffing may be deal breakers for the business. Threading that needle is not always easy.

So, when dedicated volunteers do come along that have the time, talent and desire to be a helpful component to a rural fire department, it is a time to welcome them, train them and keep them. The need is critical.

Cooperation with other rural fire department volunteers helps fill gaps on many emergency calls. Cooperative agreements between other departments are known as mutual aid agreements, i.e. we will help you this time and next time when roles are reversed, you call us and we will help out. It is in this spirit of cooperation that rural fire departments continue to make life and living in Iowa a good thing.

As for Lyle Airey and his 50 years of service, a sincere thank you is offered. You did well.