Fueling the Desire to Serve: TFIM October Talk
by Amelia Hogue, senior Cosmetology ~
Fire is “the RAPID oxidation of a material in the
exothermic chemical process of COMBUSTION, RELEASING
HEAT, light, and various
REACTION products.”
~ National Wildfire Coordinating Group
Fire isn’t picky about what or who it devours. A victim could be rich or poor, old or young, educated or ignorant. This is why fire safety education is important for everyone. That is why it is good to honor the brave men and women who fight fires in our communities. Although a firefighter could make this job a career, many begin as a volunteer.
And how do the students at LCCTC know this? This year at LCCTC, Mrs. Cepro and Ms. Heasley, co advisers of The Future is Mine, have begun monthly “TFiM Talks.” This month Machine Tool Tech teacher, Mr. Miller and his wife Melissa, Corey Walters, Kacey Cusick and Captain Joe, firefighters from Bessemer Volunteer Fire Department, who took time from their busy schedules to give a TFiM Talk on what it's like to be a volunteer. Machine Tool Tech teacher, Mr. Miller and his wife Melissa, Corey Walters, Kacey Cusick and Captain Joe were our head speakers for October’s TFiM Talk.
Students learned that volunteers make a choice to help, to put their lives on the line, and to put hours and hours of unpaid time into training; the cost of this training often comes out of the firefighter’s own pocket. These volunteers are not in it for the money; instead, they desire to serve in their community.
Can a firefighting become a career? Mr. Miller answers, “Yes. Ellwood and New Castle’s departments are staffed with full-time professional employees, but other than those two departments, there are no other paid volunteer departments in the county.”
Of course, volunteer firefighters learn industry-related skills that can be applied to professional firefighting. In addition, they learn skills that lend themselves to every career including teamwork, problem solving and adaptability, leadership, and, of course, safety.
“Students were surprised to learn that not all firefighters are paid,” Mrs. Cepro states. And while “many volunteer their time to serve,” she continues, many also seek to acquire certifications allowing them to tackle more and more when an emergency presents itself.
Although formal training is not mandatory in the state of Pennsylvania, many volunteer departments require their volunteers to complete hundreds of hours of training time and encourage active firefighters to acquire certifications (U.S. News).
Mr. and Mrs. Miller invited our school’s junior firefighters to help them discuss what serving as a volunteer is like for them.
“People see being a firefighter as someone who puts out fires and saves people from a burning buildings, but it is so much more,” states junior firefighter, Jacob Runyan Jr. “It is about making a difference in the community and helping others, throwing yourself in danger is not something you do. It is training and knowing everything that could happen on the scene.”
Runyan continues, “The Chewton VFD opened my eyes to new future that I never knew existed.” This shows the unwavering passion firefighters have to serve their community.
Firefighters are more than the people who put out fires. Mr. Miller expresses, “I enjoy being a volunteer firefighter because I enjoy serving my community,” and with a child-like gleam in his eye, he continues, “And it’s fun to play with all the big firefighter toys.” More than an MTT teacher, Mr. Miller is a man with passion for protecting his community.
When asked about the success of this first TFIM Talk, Mrs. Cepro states, “It went really well. What students enjoyed most was the chance to operate the fire hose and observe tools and equipment used.” Being able to see first-hand what the fire men and women in their community do may have interested a few to make the choice to volunteer with their local fire department, as well!
Each volunteer has a passion to serve. For those who give selfishly of their time and energy, heeding the call to help others in need is what fuels the desire to volunteer, and these volunteer firefighters have stout hearts to keep it all together.
