LEARN, &
EARN CREDITS TOO. . .
by Tim Tryjankowski
Anyone over the age of 18 and under 50 who lives within the boundaries of the Pine Hill
Fire District may join the Fire Company. If you are interested in learning about Emergency
Medical Services this is the place, at no cost, and earn college credits while you learn.
At Pine Hill you can take up to an EMT and receive your credentials at no cost to you.
Once you receive your EMT you can then have the opportunity to be employed by local
ambulance services where you can expand your credentials to paramedic, and get paid for
it.
. . . If you are interested in fire fighting, the state now offers all kinds of courses to
volunteer fire fighters at no cost to you. They have implemented what is known as the Fire
Fighter 2000 program which consists of 3 stages. Once you complete this program you will
then have the credentials to become a professional fire fighter anywhere across the United
States. And you will also receive college credits.
. . . By joining your local Volunteer Fire Department these opportunities are open to
everyone, just for volunteering some time to your community. At Pine Hill your
requirements are to answer 10 percent of alarms a year. Last year we answered 383 alarms.
That averaged out to approximately 4 alarms a month.
. . . We have our annual Fund Drive in May of every year to which we require
participation. Our Fund Drive is what helps us survive socially. Some of our social events
include our family picnic; 2 Christmas parties, one for our family's children and one for
adults; and our Annual Installation of Officers Dinner and Dance.
. . . If you are interested in joining our family and friends of Pine Hill, stop by at the
Fire Hall any Wednesday evening by 7 p.m. and speak to one of the Chiefs. We will be more
than happy to show you around and answer any questions, and pass on an application. Or you
may phone the Fire Hall at 896-8690. |
FIRE
FIGHTING NOT FOR YOU? TRY VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE . . .
(Reprinted from the Cheektowaga Times, February 24, 2000.)
There's plenty of opportunity to serve your community through the volunteer fire service
and much of it has nothing to do with firefighting. Imagine having to train to prepare
yourself to cope with situations that range from structure fires to childbirth to
hazardous chemical spills to heart attacks and almost any imaginable emergency situation
in between.
. . . You need more than just a desire to help people. You need courage and dedication,
assertiveness, and a willingness to learn new skills and face new challenges. And you need
to have the time, for training sessions, meetings, emergency responses and other duties.
The fire and rescue service is not for the meek or timid or for those who lose control
during times of crisis. The personal rewards and satisfaction received from the volunteer
emergency services are often beyond description. There is a sense of accomplishment after
controlling a building fire, joy and elation when a child is born, compassion for accident
victims, and fulfillment in teaching fire safety. If this action-packed lifestyle doesn't
appeal to you for whatever reason, have no fear, there's plenty of other opportunity to be
involved in the business of emergency services that doesn't involve eating smoke or even
seeing blood.
. . . ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE: Many fire departments offer alternative forms of
membership that may limit the scope of your firefighting or emergency medical services
(EMS) participation or may allow you to serve as a corporate, auxiliary or administrative
member of the team. By you taking on one of these non-emergency related tasks you help
alleviate the added burden probably carried by existing members performing both line
operations and business functions within the department. There's plenty to do in running
the business of emergency services, from accounting to fund-raising, grant writing, board
management, public relations, record keeping, technology and marketing, to name just a
few. Whether it's raising a ladder to a window or raising funds for more equipment,
there's a place for virtually everyone in the volunteer fire service. Not just anyone, but
maybe you. |
