Volunteer fire companies play two valuable roles in most Pennsylvania communities.

First, they are an irreplaceable service. They do more than douse flames, as if that wouldn’t be enough. They rush into emergencies that aren’t burning buildings. They respond to car crashes and natural disasters. They save us from acts of God and crises of our own making.

Second, they are community institutions. They enhance local life even on the sunny days when nothing goes wrong. Fire companies are often behind the festivals that bring neighbors together to have fun and knit families and friends closer together.

A good fish fry or weekly bingo, a carnival or car show — fire companies are known for funding their necessary work with moneymaking events that can come to define life in their backyards.

That was one of the great losses of 2020. While firefighters were still critical to keeping communities safe, they were hampered in the other side of their role. The side that can touch everyone, not just those experiencing distress.

And perhaps most importantly, the side that pays the bills.

That is changing in 2021. As restrictions have rolled back, the events that bring us together and help fire companies do their work have started to return.

Fire departments in the state are planning their annual carnivals, with everything from parades to the fireworks. Bingo is back and a slate of events is planned at firehalls across the state all summer.

These are more than just an opportunity to recapture that summer fun covid held hostage last year. They are even more than what they were in 2019 or earlier when they fostered a feeling of community camaraderie.

In 2021, attending a fire company event isn’t just a way to spend a summer day. It’s a way to give back to the people who are always there when they are needed, who always come when called.

It’s a way to answer that call in return — and in a painless way.

With covid precautions rolled back, everyone can take the time to support their local fire companies by attending an event. For that matter, support the ones in nearby communities, too, because mutual aid calls usually mean an emergency brings together multiple companies to get the job done.

You missed that funnel cake or craft show or whatever it was last year. You have pined to get out for months. Now is your chance to do more than make it fun. Make it count.

— The Tribune-Review, Greensburg/TNS