For some families it's normal to spend a Saturday night curled up watching a movie, for others they spend their free time fighting fires.
It's not everyday that you hear of a family rushing to the call when someone's home or business is on the line, but for ta handful of local families, it's completely normal.
These families have been serving their community by volunteering with their local fire departments.
Jeff and Jordis Bezruchak are new to the Iron River Fire Department. They signed on in February, and haven't looked back.
At first, Jordis wasn't sure if she was right for the job, but she quickly learned that helping her community was in her blood.
“Our friend was on the fire department four or five months before we were, and he casually said one night that they were looking for people,” Jordis said. “I was a little hesitant at first, because I haven't had any training or anything, but we decided to give it a try.”
Since then, the Bezruchaks have been answering the call whenever there's a need.
“We just talked about it and thought it would be interesting to do it together,” added Jeff. “We just want to help the community, because we're still young enough to do it.”
Jordis described having her husband on the department with her as unique, and a way to do something meaningful together.
“It's neat, because we already trust each other. We always feel safe and we know that there is always someone there for backup,” she said.
Patricia Chalut joined the Fort Kent Fire Department as a way of giving back to her community, and is the fourth member of the family to volunteer.
Her husband Rene was the first to sign-on 25-years ago, with their son and daughter not long behind.
“It feels good. I think it's one of the things that I am proud to be doing,” Chalut said. “It's just a feeling of pride.”
Volunteering together, the couple creates unique memories, such as responding to a fire at the Fort Kent senior's hall, and saving a cow trapped in a basement.
By being on the department, couples are not only inspiring others, but they are also teaching their children about the importance of teamwork, and giving back to the community.
The Chaluts are a prime example of that, with both of their children volunteering for the Fort Kent Fire Department. Their daughter volunteered for three-years before moving out of the area, while their son continues to volunteer after over five-years of service.
“It's just been a family thing that we've done for a while. We have always felt that giving back to the community is important,” Chalut said. “It's a great way to spend time together, because oftentimes you look to do community services in some way, but it can be difficult to do together as a family or as a couple, and this was a great way to do it.”
Melody and Ben Kwiatkowski serve on the Goodridge Fire Department along with Melody's parents.
The family has dedicated over 25-years to fighting fires within their community.
“My husband signed-up when we first built the fire hall here. We married a couple of years after that, and I started soon after,” Melody said. “It's nice to be able to help the community.”
Laura Papirny agreed that it's an opportunity to set an example for kids and the community. With her husband, Brian, the couple has volunteered together for the Glendon Fire Department for a number of years.
“It was definitely something we enjoyed doing together,” she said.
Papirny was approached by the fire department because of her medical background. Her joining inspired her husband to follow suit.
“We always try and present a united-team front with our children. This is definitely a good example and shows how to give back to the community, which is why we joined to start with.”
Although it seemed intimidating at the start, all of the firefighters are glad they took a chance.
“I recommend it. It's a good way to learn what your spouse can do in stressful or emergency situations,” expressed Jeff.
Jordis added, “It's fun. You have the camaraderie and we have gotten to know people in the community. We want to help and serve our community.”
