To the Editor:

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Norwood, Potsdam and Norfolk fire departments for their rapid response to the apartment house fire on Spring Street in Norwood during the early morning hours of Oct 15.

They arrived on scene within 4 minutes from when the 911 call was placed. They quickly controlled and extinguished the fire soon after. Their timely and professional response prevented potential fatalities.

Not being from New York, I was surprised to discover afterwards that most of the firefighters were volunteers, many of whom went to work at their regular jobs later that day. I was also surprised to discover that some employers of these brave men and women frown upon involvement with volunteer fire fighting because it affects work production.

In some cases pay is deducted from the volunteer for time missed at work while they are risking their lives fighting fires. I’m willing to bet that those employers would change their perspective if was their own family and home at risk!

A good example of that change might be to reward the volunteer with a paid day off after a job well done for their selfless service to community. It would benefit both the employer and the volunteer in the long term because the volunteer would increase production knowing their employer appreciates them.

I would be remiss if I did not recognize the daring efforts of my neighbor who, because his modesty shall remain nameless but by now people should know who he is from other newspaper articles.

He evacuated me and all other fellow tenants from the house before losing his entire apartment to the fire and for which this letter may not have been written for the lives he saved.

Dan Sullivan

Norwood