Firefighters Honored For Their Service

A small town honored its own heroes on Saturday.  The News On 6's Emory Bryan reports the community of Inola honored it's firefighters with a tribute both on video and in person.  It was a chance to thank the all volunteer department for their dedicated service.

The small crowd gathered outside Calvary Baptist Church which is made up of firefighters and their families.

Inola decided to thank the firefighters, with a meal and a tribute and awards to recognize their years of service, and their sacrifice.

Inola has 19 active firefighters, and just as many who are retired from the fire service.

L.D. Littlefield helped start the department and at first he says, all they had was buckets and hoses.

"We had to make our own money to keep gas in the trucks," said Littlefield who is now retired.

Thank you's came in from dozens of homeowners and business people who are grateful.

The ceremony also honored the fire chief for his 34 years of service, but he's actually been going to fires since he was a child, his father helped start the department.

Inola Fire Chief Barney Grigg says the one thing that makes being a volunteer in a small town so meaningful, they usually know the people they are helping.

So it's really a very big family of people helping each other.