Harry Fielder
2008

CART

Community Action Response Team 

This innovative idea emerged the summer of 1983 when Elder James Cawthon of the Duncanville Church of Christ met with a team of members to select an outreach program to serve the Duncanville community.  A feasibility study was undertaken to investigate the community’s resources after a neighbor’s home was destroyed by fire.  “We chose a fire-call ministry,” said Cawthon, “because we saw a real need for services that the fire department wasn’t equipped to handle, such as assisting the victims of the fire after the fire trucks had gone.” 

From a 120-130 member volunteer force, 17 team captains were chosen, and the CART program was on its way.  A large van was purchased and put into service on July 4^th, 1983.  The van was outfitted with a bed, cabinets, food, microwave oven, and clothing.  Duncanville Fire Chief, Bob O’Burke said, “This idea is very good.  They (CART) can be a tremendous help to both the families and the firemen.” 

The principal goal of CART is to minister to the victims of fires or other disasters while the firefighters are busy fighting the fire.  The secondary aim is to be of service to the firefighters and police officers, not just at the scene of the fire or disaster, but with other community service projects as well. 

The CART team operates on two levels during an emergency.  One-half of the team members serve food and beverages to the firefighters and police, while the rest of the team members provide care for the fire victims by offering food, drinks and clothing.  If necessary, the CART team will get a hotel room for displaced victims. 

Originally the CART team also provided a valuable and needed service to the community by cleaning the scene after a suicide or murder. 

In 1998 the Duncanville Church of Christ placed the winning bid on one of Duncanville’s ambulances that had been taken out of the fire department’s active service.  The ambulance was refurbished and placed into service as the CART vehicle and the old van was retired. 

 In 2006,  in an effort to prolong its life,  the CART vehicle was moved from the parking lot of Duncanville Church of Christ and brought inside of Duncanville’s fire station  #2 on Main Street to keep it out of the weather.  In 2007 the vehicle was re-equipped with a new dispatch radio to stay current with the updated communication technology of the

Best Southwest Cities. 

The Duncanville Church of Christ, through Pastor Ron Carlson, David George (Duncanville Fire Department Chaplin) and others like Harry Fielder who have a heart for community missions, continue to provide financial, prayer and personnel support for the Community Action Response Team. 

Citations and letters of recognition and gratitude have come from President Ronald Reagan, United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen, United States Representative Phil Gramm, Texas state senators and representatives as well as repeated thanks from our local police and fire chiefs over the years. 

The name Harry Fielder has become synonymous with the Community Action Response Team and he has been the glue that has held the program together since its inception.  Others have come and gone but Harry Fielder is CART.  He is the go to guy when help is needed.   Harry arms himself with a cell phone, scanner and pager.  He listens for the call and when he hears, “The house has become fully involved.” there is no stopping him at any hour of the day or night.    Listening to Harry Fielder is like hearing the history of Duncanville. His eyes will become watery as he recounts meaningful times when he has been able to help people in need. 

Although CART no longer provides suicide and murder scene cleanup, Harry Fielder is available to assist the victims of tragedy and to provide the much-appreciated service to the fire and police departments. 

The CART vehicle can be seen traveling along the streets with its lights flashing and Harry Fielder behind the wheel with a smile on his face carefully navigating his way.  He is on his way to help someone again.