A Life on Call: The Story of Volunteer Firefighter Quinn Drouin
By Avoyelles Publishing & Quinn Drouin
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MicrositesFor more than three decades, Quinn Drouin
has answered the call to serve his community. A volunteer firefighter since 1991, Drouin has dedicated much of his life to protecting the citizens of Hessmer and surrounding areas. Since 2000, he has served as Fire Chief of the Hessmer Volunteer Fire Department—a role he describes as challenging, demanding, and deeply rewarding.
The Sacrifice Behind the Sirens
Behind every flashing light and sounding siren is a sacrifice most people never see. Volunteer firefighters like those in Hessmer don’t clock in for a shift — they drop what they’re doing. Family dinners are interrupted, sleep is cut short, and holidays are sometimes spent on the road to an emergency instead of around the table.
They leave warm beds on cold nights, step out of birthday parties, and pause their own lives without hesitation when the call comes in. And they do it not for recognition or pay, but because someone in their community needs help.
For Chief Quinn Drouin and his team, being a volunteer firefighter means accepting that the needs of others often come before their own. It’s a quiet sacrifice made daily — one rooted in love for their neighbors and pride in protecting the place they call home.
A Calling to Serve
“Volunteering for a fire department is something you have to want to do—it’s a calling,” Drouin said.
Volunteer firefighters train regularly, attend meetings, and respond to emergency calls at any hour of the day or night. Whether it’s a cold, rainy night or a 2 a.m. emergency, volunteers are expected to respond when help is needed.
“It’s not easy,” Drouin explained. “We all have families and full-time jobs, but when our community needs us, we do our best to be there.”
Despite the sacrifices, Drouin says the rewards far outweigh the challenges. “Helping people during some of the worst moments of their lives makes it all worthwhile.”
Training and Preparedness
Drouin and the volunteers of the Hessmer Fire Department are trained in all aspects of firefighting. This includes the use of personal protective equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hoses, ladders, ventilation techniques, and other critical firefighting skills.
“Our top priorities are safety and preparedness,” Drouin said. “Training ensures our firefighters can do their jobs effectively while protecting themselves and others.”
Equipment and Facilities
The department operates out of two fire stations and maintains a fleet that includes:
- Three pumper trucks
- Two tanker trucks
- Two brush trucks
- Two service trucks
The most critical equipment firefighters rely on is their personal protective gear—firefighting coats, pants, helmets, boots, gloves, and SCBA units.
Currently, the Hessmer Volunteer Fire Department is made up of 19 dedicated members, all serving on a volunteer basis.
Serving Avoyelles Parish
There are 15 fire departments in Avoyelles Parish. Only two—Marksville and Bunkie—are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The remaining departments, including Hessmer, rely entirely on volunteers and typically average about 15 members each.
The Hessmer department responds to approximately 100 calls per year, including:
- Structure fires
- Grass and brush fires
- Vehicle fires
- Natural gas leaks
- Motor vehicle accidents
- CPR/AED medical emergencies
The department also participates in a parish-wide mutual aid agreement, assisting neighboring departments when additional manpower or equipment is needed.
Avoyelles Parish owns a portable cascade system used to refill air bottles on scene. That unit is housed in Hessmer, and the department responds with it whenever another department requests assistance.
Balancing Work and Service
Like most volunteer firefighters, Drouin and his team balance their service with full-time employment.
“Our regular jobs come first because they pay the bills,” Drouin said. “We respond when we can, and everyone understands that balance.”
Challenges Facing Volunteer Fire Departments
Drouin says the biggest challenges today are funding, volunteer recruitment, and retention.
“Volunteer departments everywhere are struggling to find and keep members,” he said. “It takes commitment, time, and sacrifice.”
Community Support and Funding
The department’s primary source of funding comes from a parish-wide property millage tax that was first passed in 1991. All fire departments in the parish—except Effie and the city limits of Marksville—receive funding from this tax.
“This funding has benefited all of us greatly,” Drouin said. “We’re very thankful to the citizens who continue to renew it every time it’s on the ballot.”
A Rewarding Commitment
Despite the challenges, Drouin remains proud of his years of service and the volunteers who serve alongside him.
“Being a volunteer firefighter is one of the most rewarding things you can do,” he said. “We’re neighbors helping neighbors, and that means everything.”
Thank you to all of the Volunteer Firefighters in our parish that sacrifice so much to help us. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. We appreciate every time you step away from your jobs and families to make sure other families are safe.
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