Between the floods, the ice storms, and the snowfall, volunteer firefighters throughout Lawrence County have been busy.

"We've been cutting trees, trying to get them out of the roads," said Windsor Township firefighter Lafe Terry. "Last Sunday, we were out all day and worked until Monday morning clearing roads."

His counterparts in other areas have the same story to tell -- hard work and long hours. This, they willingly do for free.

"I just like helping people,"

Terry said.

Aid Township Fire Chief Joe Justice said his firefighters have taken shifts at the fire station, making water available to people who have none because their electric well pumps are not running.

When flood water rose last spring, firefighters rescued stranded motorists off the tops of their cars, rounded up row boats and helped evacuate homes, and lent whatever assistance they could. Justice will tell you these volunteers are truly unsung heroes, whatever the season.

"They put in long hours, and they sacrifice to help others in the community," Justice said. "They deserve a pat on the back."

Justice

is just as adamant that firefighters' families should be commended as well because they do without their loved ones while they are doing work for others.

"The wives, the children, they're all to be commended. Usually they don't complain about the long hours," Justice said.

Justice and his wife, Kim, have been married for 15 years, about the same length of time he has been with the fire department. She and her two children, Josh, 18, and Stephanie, 12, have learned to live with their father's absence.

"Stephanie has never known anything else," Kim Justice said. "And Josh has grown up with this. Sill, it can be monotonous. And it is hard when sometimes we want to go out to dinner but he's out fighting a fire. But we deal with it because we know this is something he loves and something he wants to do for the community. And I know he's doing the best job possible for the

community."

Terry said it has often been difficult for his girlfriend, Sylvia Barrett, to accept that he is sometimes not there when she would like him to be.

"She wasn't too thrilled at first," Terry said. "But she deals with it."

Terry and Barrett have been dating for 10 years. He has been a firefighter off and on since before the two of them met. Terry said when they are apart for extended periods, they tend to use the phone to keep in touch.

"I do try to call her from time to time when I'm out and let her know I'm all right," Terry said.

Shirley Mannon, South East Ohio Critical Incident Stress Management Director/Coordinator said the selflessness can be difficult for families, especially at times when they might be in the same predicament as the neighbors their loved ones are helping.

"Some of them are living without heat, without water," Mannon said. "And it can be very difficult for families to see their father or their husband helping others when they are doing without. Emergency services workers tend to put themselves and their families last."

Mannon suggests workers' families should consider keeping a journal in times such as these so they can detail what has happened and how they coped with it. Not only would it be cathartic for the journal-keepers themselves, but it might also provide treasured insight for future generations.

Mannon said she hopes people in the community realize how hard emergency personnel work at times like these, and that their sense of responsibility to the community is heartfelt.

"Some of them are working nearly around the clock to restore service to other peoples' homes and to make sure other people have water service," Mannon said. "They're doing everything they can."