ROME TOWNSHIP - For anyone who ever dreamed of having their very own fire department, Saturday may be their best opportunity.

The Rome Township Volunteer Fire Department will sponsor a "Hire a Firefighter" fund raiser. Approximately 20 firefighters from the department will be available to perform odd jobs around the township and in the Tri-State for donations that will be used for general operations and equipment maintenance.

"It was the members' idea to come up with this fund- raiser," Thomas Burcham, Fire Chief, said. "We did it twice last year and it worked pretty well for us."

The department raised about $1,800.

"It is very rewarding. Sometimes the community works side by side with us," he said. "The community has always been very supportive of us. We are not there on a job, so we can talk to them."

The employer must provide the tools for the job and the firefighters have the right to decline requests that are too difficult or dangerous.

"We have done everything from wash cars, give dogs baths, trimming shrubs, general cleanup and clearing out garages," Burcham said. "All jobs will be considered."

The money will be used as part of $3,000 in matching funds for a Department of Natural Resources grant that will be used to refurbish a brush truck and to help reimburse costs of a recently purchased truck-mounted water tank unit.

Anyone interested can call (740) 886-6770, contact any Rome firefighter or visit the fire station at 9 a.m. Saturday.