On November 11th, 2008 the family of William "Bill" F. Payer donated a new carbon monoxide monitoring and alarm system for the air-supply / SCBA refill station at Bella Vista Fire station #1. This was done through the Firefighters Respiratory Protection Fund created by Bill and his family. 

We are indebted to the Payer family, the Oxnard Fire Dept., and all others that have donated so generously to this fund.  We thank them for their support and continued contribution to the safety of our firefighters and equipment. 

Bill Payer was a career firefighter in Oxnard, California for over 30 years, and most recently lived here in Bella Vista, AR for the past 14 years.  He was a wonderfully invited guest here at the station as he would frequently stop in to visit and talk "shop".

The fund most recently raised more than $4K through the efforts of Marty Payer (Bill's son) and family, and worked diligently with the equipment supplier Mako.  Marty is continuing his father's legacy through such efforts as he reminisces of the days that (paraphrase), "Dad [Bill]...was constantly bringing his work home with him and methodically checking his fire department's air equipment...as he knew how important it was to the men [firemen] and department."

As stated before, the men of the Bella Vista Fire Department are so very grateful to the Payer family and all others for their generous contribution.  We will always welcome them as our friends and fellow team. "Every time that machine is working, (Bill Payer) is working for us..." -Chief Steve Sims

You can find out more information on this fund and efforts at: www.SaveTheSmokeEaters.com
(Photos courtesy of Payer family and John Cottingham.)

Press links:
http://www.4029tv.com/video/17959670/index.html

http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/news/67770/

Click on any image to view a larger image.

"Every time that machine is working, (Bill Payer) is working for us..." 

-Chief Steve Sims