‘I know I have a job to do’

Ken Rice works as a volunteer to help those who lost loved ones in the line of duty

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By ASHLEY DICKSON
summit daily news
Summit County, CO Colorado
April 26, 2008

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SUMMIT COUNTY — Only moments after hearing that two firefighters in Ordway had been killed fighting a massive wildfire, Chaplain Ken Rice got in the car and drove more than 200 miles to console the grieving families and conduct a memorial service in the small town ripped apart by tragedy.

A former Snake River Fire Department board member, Rice has been working as a Chaplain for almost eight years, working as a volunteer to help families and emergency responders cope with trauma.

“My paycheck is the blessings I get from doing what I do,” said Rice.

Rice is the acting Chaplain for Lake Dillon Fire and Rescue, Copper Mountain Fire Department, and the Summit Medical Center, and was named Chaplain for the Local Assistance State Team (L.A.S.T.) by the Colorado State Fire Chief Association last year.

L.A.S.T. was formed by the Department of Justice to assist families of fallen firefighters across the nation, providing financial aid and emotional networking support. Rice is quickly notified if a line of duty death occurs in the state and will help with grief support for both family members and emergency responders dealing with emotional trauma.

“It’s a time to give them hugs and let them weep, and sometimes weep with them,” said Rice. “I just try to be as much help as I can.”

Also a member of the High Country Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Rice is specially trained to coach people through stressful and traumatic situations, working with firefighters, law enforcement officers, ski patrol, and medical staff.

“Carrying around that stress can sometime impair their ability to function in their jobs so we hold stress meetings for emergency responders and go over ways to cope,” said Rice.

Brandon Williams with Lake Dillon Fire and Rescue said that Rice’s job is critical in proving comfort and guidance to emergency responders and survivors, and his soothing presence at local fire departments helps firefighters face emotions that can sometimes get buried.

“It’s not so much a religious thing, he is more of a counselor,” said Williams. “He’s trained to ask the right questions so an individual can face what they’ve been through and learn how to deal with it in a logical way.”

Learning how to deal with stress and grief can be challenging for any human being, and for individuals on the front line assisting those in danger it can become especially difficult to manage certain emotions.

“You never know when certain emotions are going to hit, and we aren’t built with a switch to control them,” said Rice. “The cumulative effect can get to anybody and there are always things that will remain.”

It’s easy to assume that the job of helping individuals cope with grief can wear on a person after time, and Rice does acknowledge that it can be especially draining at times.

“When I’m on the scene I know I have a job to do so I’m busy and focused,” said Rice. “But then when the dust settles the emotions set in and you have to take the time to process it.”

In the small town of Ordway, Rice spoke at the memorial service for the firefighters that lost their lives, providing words of wisdom to over 1,000 people that packed the local high school gymnasium.

“There are so many different components to a firefighter memorial, it’s a brotherhood really and everyone comes out to support each other,” said Rice.

After the service in Ordway, fire trucks from other departments in the area gathered in the streets to hoist a giant American flag, a final tribute to the two fallen firefighters.
“At the end of the day fire departments are just one big family, and we are really proud to have Ken as a part of ours,” said Williams.

Ashley Dickson can be reached at (970) 668-4629, or at adickson@summitdaily.com.