Apr 19, 2024 By Mark Hofmann 4 min read

What goes around, truly does come around.

Ross Miller has spent more than 50 years serving the Wharton Township community as a volunteer firefighter, so when a tree fell on him as he was fighting a March 29 brush fire, the community stepped in to repay him.

Miller sustained multiple compression injuries to his vertebrae and a shattered ankle, and spent six days in the hospital. He can get around on a scooter that allows him to put his injured leg up, but found that mode of transportation problematic on his first day home. With no ramp to wheel the scooter up, he tried to climb the stairs to his house on crutches.

He couldn’t get his footing.

“I just threw my crutches inside and crawled in,” the 78-year-old said.

That’s when the community stepped in.

“When he said he had to crawl into the house, I said ‘No, that’s not going to happen anymore,'” Farmington Volunteer Fire Chief Brian VanSickle said.

He called New Meadow Run/Spring Valley Bruderhof Community in Farmington, and they worked out plans to construct a 20-foot wooden ramp to Miller’s porch that would allow him to get directly into his house on the scooter.

“He has sacrificed his time and effort to help others, and we wanted to help him in his time of need,” community spokesman Mike Maendel said.

With members of the Bruderhof community willing to construct the ramp, they just needed the materials.

Another of VanSickle’s calls was to a local business, which agreed to anonymously donate around $2,000 for the materials.

Maendel said the ramp was constructed in two sections and was transported to Miller’s house on Saturday, where it was assembled along with the railings and posts.

“I’m very appreciative,” Miller said. “Bruderhof does a lot of jobs in the community and does nothing but good things in the community.”

Maendel said the Bruderhof community has done similar projects for people and organizations in the past.

“Especially this time with Ross being a firefighter and all — it’s hard enough to get people to volunteer for anything,” Maendel said. “If this encourages others to do the same, we’d like to spread that message.”

Miller joined the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department in 1971 at the age of 25.

“I just figured the community needed fire protection, and somebody had to do it,” Miller said.

VanSickle said Miller has been with the department for so long that he has the knowledge and experience to take on just about any role.

“There’s nothing he can’t do on a fire scene,” VanSickle said.

Although he no longer goes into burning structures, Miller remains active in the department, responding to scenes like the March 29 brush fire.

That day, Miller said, he saw a burning tree in the distance and went over to handle it.

“I was about to get on the radio to see if anyone had a chainsaw to cut it down, and I got whapped,” he said.

A tree that was about 8 inches in diameter and 20 to 30 feet tall fell, hitting his back. His fellow firefighters got him safely out of the area, and he was flown for treatment.

As for Miller’s volunteer efforts with the fire department, he has up to eight weeks of keeping all weight off his foot, going through home physical therapy and going to doctor appointments.

He doesn’t know when he’ll be back at 100%, but isn’t ready to hang up his gear.

“As long as I’m physically able to do it,” Miller said, fully knowing he’ll have the support of the community, his family and his extended family of fellow volunteers.