Volunteer Firefighters Needed

Volunteer Firefighters Needed

10/14/2019

by Brian Coll

Last Wednesday I brought my family out to Fayette Street for the annual Colonial Fire Prevention Demonstration. It was great. It truly was, and if you have children you should definitely check it out next year. Beyond the evening… there is a problem…. we have some amazing volunteers in our community. These volunteer firefighters and support staff serve our community in so many ways, but when you think of firefighters, you think of putting out a fire. Here’s the thing, they do so many things, rescues, direct traffic around vehicle accidents. It’s not always a glamorous job but these people step up and serve our community. If you don’t see yourself running into a burning building (I don’t see myself doing it) maybe you can become a fire police person. If you have diving skills… I bet one of the local fire departments would love to talk to you.

If you are considering becoming a firefighter, talk to one of the local companies. I am going to try to list a few if not all of our local departments and I apologize in advance if I miss one.

Washington Fire Company #1 (Washies)

Conshohocken Fire Company #2

Barren Hill Fire Company

Plymouth Fire Company

George Clay Fire Company

Harmonville Fire Company

Spring Mill Fire Company

There are a few others the further away from Conshohocken you go, if they are closer to you, find one and talk to them.

We know this isn’t for everyone. It takes a special person to sign up for this lifestyle. A lifestyle where your phone will ring in the middle of the night and you will go protect a stranger, you’ll stick around after a vehicle accident and clean up so the rest of us can get to work in the morning without the remains of an overnight accident in the middle of the road.

One of the most inspiring stories in recent memory for me is hearing that Mike Yuengling became a fireman at Conshohocken Fire Company #2. Mike was my moms physical therapist when she had her hip replaced a number of years ago. Mike came to our house as a stranger, left as a friend and I was so thrilled he joined the fire company and has been a very active member since. What was so inspiring to me was, Mike is slightly older than me, to see someone take on a new responsibility, and hours of training to help our community meant the world to me. If you see Mike, thank him for his service to our borough and tell him the guys at Coll’s Custom Framing said hello.

Thanks for taking a couple minutes to read this. If you can help, consider it. In many ways it is a thankless job, but in that one moment, that one moment where you help someone in some small way… know that all of us in the community are thanking you.