Ever since the Providence firefighters picketed the mayors’ conference, many readers expressed their disappointment and even anger. There have also been letters defending the firefighters, such as Alan Bock’s July 1 letter, “Firefighters underpaid to risk lives.”

But we are ignoring another important class: the volunteer firefighters of Rhode Island. Here are dedicated individuals who are obviously underpaid — they aren’t paid at all. So when they risk their lives, I have to believe it’s purely for altruistic reasons. And the volunteers die, just like the paid firefighters.

Quoting from a July 1 news story: “Allan ‘Pickles’ LePage, 67, a volunteer firefighter for 42 years and mentor to hundreds of volunteer firefighters who went on to become professional firefighters or volunteers in their own communities, died Tuesday morning of injuries suffered Monday in the Kingston Fire District station.”

Let’s not forget the truly unsung heroes, the Rhode Island volunteer firefighters.

KEN GILLEO

West Greenwich