Officials of area volunteer fire departments probably are pondering the situation of an East Butler volunteer firefighter who faces a number of charges stemming from an accident that occurred while he was on his way to an emergency call on Sept. 5.

Rightfully so. There is much to be considered in regard to the accident, which resulted in serious injuries to a 20-year-old Chicora man who was riding a motorcycle.

The firefighter, Leroy Goepfert, 29, was not operating a fire vehicle at the time of the accident.

Goepfert allegedly failed to stop for a red stoplight, drove on the left side of the road, failed to drive at a safe speed, and even failed to give information to authorities and failed to render aid to the motorcycle rider.

Conduct like that damages the image of the volunteer fire-fighting service and the thousands of dedicated individuals who observe the laws while performing their important volunteer roles.

What officials of volunteer fire departments in East Butler and elsewhere should be weighing as they await the outcome of Goepfert's case is easy to fathom.

The obvious first issue is why Goepfert felt he had the right to risk a tragedy, even though he was on the worthy mission of trying to get to the site of the emergency call and render assistance. Volunteer firefighters are trained in acceptable response procedures as part of their overall training.

The next issue deals with Goepfert's past brushes with the law in terms of his driving record. Over the past seven years, he has faced charges such as driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to stop at a red stoplight, driving while his license was revoked or suspended, driving a vehicle that wasn't inspected, reckless driving, and failure to keep right. He pleaded guilty, paid fines or was put on probation for at least some of those violations.

How the East Butler department could have felt comfortable having someone who has exhibited such irresponsibility responding to emergencies on the department's behalf is puzzling and troubling.

Goepfert's status with the department should have been questioned long before Sept. 5.

Granted, Goepfert's case is an isolated one. Court dockets and police reports aren't filled with similar incidents involving volunteer firefighters. Most volunteer firefighters are dedicated, devoted to professionalism and good conduct, very skilled in carrying out their fire-fighting duties, and willing to risk their lives on others' behalf.

Without their commitment to their communities, those communities could not feel safe.

That some volunteer fire departments are experiencing difficulty in recruiting enough members is of deep concern. That is one reason why many departments now have junior firefighters — to build interest in the fire service that will carry over to their adult lives.

Goepfert laudably offered his time, service and skills to the East Butler department. But with the decision to offer that service came the necessity to behave responsibly and to enhance, rather than erode, what his department is all about.

His goal always should have been to be an asset to the department — rather than the liability that he unquestionably has become.

Regardless of his past service, his conduct on Sept. 5, coupled with his past driving violations, reveals that his department membership should be revoked, if it hasn't already been — and that he should not be accepted for membership in any other department.

Meanwhile, officials of other fire departments should examine whether there are potential problems like Goepfert's in regard to anyone in their ranks, and conduct refresher courses on what the laws stipulate, stressing the necessity of observing those laws.

Leroy Goepfert is not what the volunteer fire service is about, and departments statewide should take all possible steps to ensure that there are no repeats of his unconscionable episode.