ELLENBURG DEPOT -- Richard Manor has always had a burning passion to help residents in his community.

He has been chief of the Ellenburg Depot Volunteer Fire Department here for 33 years and a member for longer than he can remember.

"I love to help the people and the public," said Manor, who was celebrating his 67th birthday on April 7. "I just love to be there when somebody needs help."

Training criteria and advances in technology have changed since he started firefighting nearly four decades ago.

When Manor first joined the department, firefighters needed only 13 weeks of training. Now, he said, they need more than 30 weeks to be qualified, which has discouraged new volunteers from joining.

"The laws are stiffer than they used to be. It takes a lot of time and energy to train," he said.

His department has about 30 volunteers -- an average number.

"Years ago we used to have a waiting list. There hasn't been one in some time."

FIVE FIRE PHONES

Even tools like pagers and radios have transformed the process for reporting and responding to fires.

"Back in 1975, we didn't have the pagers and radios that the (firefighters) have today," remembered the chief's wife, Leona. "One of the perks of being chief was that you got to have a fire phone in your home."

Mrs. Manor said there were five fire phones in town at the time her husband started.

"When the call came in, someone answered and took the information. Then, without hanging up, you activated the siren with a little toggle switch on the wall. You would push it to one side for a few seconds and then back for a few more seconds until a fireman, hearing the siren, came to the firehouse and picked up the phone.

"He would get the information and write it on the board for all the others."

She said the fire phone blared when it rang, and "in the middle of the night, it would make your hair stand on end."