New Auxiliary Group Provides Backup for the Sussex Fire Department

After almost three decades at the , Cathy Selerski noticed something was missing. 

Well, more like a few things were missing. Under strict budget contstraints, certain life-saving elements of a well-oiled fire department seemed to fly under the radar. But Selerski knew that organizing endless fundraisers would be too much to ask of the paid-on-call staff, most of whom have full-time jobs in addition to their fire department service. 

“I retired as the deputy chief at the fire department in May after 29 years,” said Selerski. “And I knew it was time. I’d been talking about starting an auxiliary group for the fire department for years. Lisbon has an auxiliary, and they do so much to help out.” 

Right after retirement, Selerski started the Sussex Fire Auxiliary, a sort of booster club for the fire department. The group of 16 wives and fire fighters pull together resources and raise money for things that aren’t in the budget. 

And the team still finds itself rushing to fires. While auxiliary members don’t climb the ladders and aim the hoses, the group offers Sussex’s heroes something you might forget. 

“Normally you’re so busy working on the fire that all the sudden you think, ‘Oh yeah! It’s two hours past lunchtime,’” Selerski said. “We’ll run over to McDonald's to grab some burgers or something. We want to support them in any way we can.”

And support includes fundraising. Right now the auxiliary is busy pulling together a calendar for every home in Sussex that will feature different advertisements and coupons on the pages. Local businesses buy space in the calendar, and all of the proceeds go toward items the department needs.

A few items on the pricey list include a powered cot that automatically hoists people into the ambulance, a “jaws of life”-type apparatus for ripping open mangled cars, a rehab tent and a saw. 

“We used to do these calendars from ’97 to 2006, but they were just so much work,” said Selerski. “We quit doing it, but brought it back when the auxiliary started. We filled 14 ad spaces as of last Saturday, but we can do 36. We’re not discouraged.”

The auxiliary is hoping to send the calendars to the printers soon in order to get them before the end of the year, but ad sales aren’t as great as they’d hoped. A lot of businesses are saying the $300 to $1,000 ad just isn’t in the budget. 

However, Selerski is determined to make between $4,000 and $7,000 for the department with the calendars. Once they’re printed, all eyes will be focused on a Dec. 3 event at Tailgators. There will be a silent auction, and 10 percent of the food sales will be donated to the fire department.  

“It’s important, they need help, and they do a phenomenal job,” she said.

Selerski said anyone who is interested in buying space in the calendar, or even just joining the auxiliary, can send her an email.