Every day volunteer fire departments provide crucial services to outlying communities. Saving lives and properties on a shoestring budget.

The town of Liberty has been trying to complete construction on a fire station. NewsChannel 8's Burt Mummulo reports.

To meet the Chairman of the Board of the Liberty Fire Department, you have to wind your way through the tractor traffic jam, past the cow office park, and step around the cat on the lawn.

Mary Smith, life long liberty resident, fanatic fire fighter fundraiser, "Are there any paid firefighters? No paid ones at all."

She adds, "Spaghetti diners, baked potato dinners." Money needed for the completion of the Crowell Station. The latest and seemingly longest fundraiser yet.

"Probably three years would have been an estimation at that time and now we're in year? Now we're in year eight," Smith says.

"When we got started we had nothing," Lee Johnson, Chief for 27 years, with the torn rotator cuffs to prove it. "Accidents do happen."

At 67 he's still fighting fires, and fighting inflation. "The price of everything has gone up tremendously."

Finishing the concrete out back, or the bathroom inside has taken a back seat for the all volunteer department, ready to respond at a moment's notice.

Ron King, 58, is a volunteer firefighter. "After we moved out here I got somewhat acquainted with the fire department. Unfortunately, through a grass fire on part of my property."

He adds, "Sometimes I wonder what am I doing out here."

But they are out here, because if they don't do it no one will. and if their dedication doesn't move donors to pony up, maybe Mary's dessert at the next fundraiser will.

"Coca-Cola cake, what? Coca-Cola cake, you can use Pepsi in it if you want to."

The next spaghetti dinner will be this Saturday at the Liberty School cafeteria. For more information, call 366-3921.