NASELLE – The address marking poles which are being installed by members of the Naselle Volunteer Fire Department are now available in the Naselle area. A few of the poles were installed the last weekend of August and more will be installed during one weekend a month until the entire community is covered with the new address locators.

The poles, which list the address of the home or building at that address, are a simple, inexpensive way to insure that members of the volunteer fire department and ambulance service can find an address in times of emergencies. With the proliferation of roads, driveways, and new homes in the area, the new markers make it much easier and faster to locate the address in time of need. A person should not assume that all the volunteers know where you live even though you may have been at the same address all of your life. Many of the volunteers are newcomers to this area.

This writer can attest to this need as a few months ago an ambulance was needed at our address. Even though we have resided at the same location for over 40 years, two new driveways and two new homes have recently branched off of our driveway. In addition, five more new homes have been built in the one-half mile of the county road leading to our home. The ambulance driver inadvertently first drove to a neighbor’s house while attempting to locate the right spot for the ambulance call. While in this case, haste was not a major criteria, the delay could have been crucial in locating our home. We, and our neighbors, have now been among the first 30 Naselle addresses to have these address poles installed.

It is very easy for anyone to get on the list for the new markers. Members of the community are asked to call Laure’ Akers at 484-3469 to get one’s name and address on the list for the installation of the address poles. The fire department is asking for a donation of $20 to help defray the costs of the pole materials.

Installing the poles involves more than simply going to an address and putting the pole in the ground. The fire department is required to notify the different utilities two weeks in advance so the utilities can go out and mark the location of their underground pipes and wires before any installation can be completed.

Because of that requirement, the poles will be installed in one area at a time. The next planned installation, in September will be for homes on Parpala Road. Residents of that area are asked to contact Ms. Akers at her number as soon as possible to get on the list for installation. Installation on other Naselle roads will follow.

Some members of the fire department will be going door-to-door to explain the program and sign up people for the program. They also will be speaking to different groups, church congregations, and the like to spread the word about this inexpensive life-saving device.

The members of the volunteer fire department and ambulance service do a thankless job and this one small step will make that job just a little easier. Remember, just by signing up and spending 20 bucks, the life that you might save may very well be your own.