Washington Township Fire Company to host recruiting open house in hopes of attracting volunteers
Volunteer first responders of all capacities are needed in Washington Township.
The Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company is hosting an open house Saturday on the company grounds in an effort to bolster its volunteer roster.
In Pennsylvania, the number of volunteer firefighters has plummeted since the 1970s, when there were about 300,000 firefighters, according to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. Only about 37,000 firefighters answer the call of service today in Pennsylvania.
Washington Township has about 40 active volunteers, including seven female firefighters and a handful of social members.
“Every department is in need of volunteers. I think it’s a generational and society thing. There are fewer people volunteering. It’s everywhere but we’re still holding our own,” said fire company president Jay Morgan.
“Volunteering provides a sense of satisfaction in helping others and provides a place where you get a sense of belonging.”
Interested volunteers can fill out applications at the event. Once approved, they will receive a $100 gift card. Volunteers don’t have to live in Washington Township.
A family-friendly event, attendees Saturday are invited to experience what Washington Township firefighters do to keep the community safe.
The open house will include fire extinguishing demonstrations and the distribution of free smoke detectors, while supplies last.
Free hot dogs, drinks and chips will be served.
Children’s activities will include a Q&A with firefighters and an interactive duck “fishing” game held in a water-filled dump tank.
“We’re rural and there’s not fire hydrants everywhere, so we have a tanker we take on location. We’re going to fill it up with rubber ducks,” Morgan said.
Children can try their hands at extinguishing a faux fire on an 8-foot replica of a home using a very low water pressure.
“We need to get more people in the community involved, and we haven’t done this in about 15 years,” said Morgan, who has been with the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company about that long and has served as president twice.
The all-volunteer department is in need of firefighters, rescue vehicle personnel and drivers qualified to operate fire trucks.
Volunteers are also needed for office and administrative jobs, fundraisers and cooking.
Fire company volunteers 18 and older are eligible for free or reduced tuition in all courses during their first three years of service at Westmoreland County Community College and free training conducted by state certified fire instructors.
The fire company ordered a new rescue engine last December with delivery expected in late 2025.
The company needs to raise $900,000 to pay for it, Morgan said.
Junior firefighters welcome
Anyone 14 and older may volunteer and start as a junior firefighter. The fire company has one 15-year-old from the Kiski Area School District among its ranks.
Morgan explained how junior firefighters benefit from volunteering.
“They can discover a career path by volunteering with the fire department, and it’s a good college resume builder, too.” he said. “And while they’re still in school, they can take community college credits at the fire hall.”
Senior volunteer firefighter Cassie Leith, 18, of Washington Township joined the fire company when she was 14 and a student at Kiski Area High School.
“I’m a fourth-generation firefighter. And when I was little, I loved visiting the fire company. Since volunteering, it’s changed my outlook on how it feels to help people,” said Leith, a nursing student at Penn State University and Westmoreland County Community College.
“I love making a difference. And I tell teens, ‘love what you’re doing.’ We try and make training fun in our department.”
Leith was awarded the 2023 Albert E. Wicks Service Award for exemplary fire service earlier this month.
Junior firefighters are ages 14 to 17 and are allowed to ride on trucks to emergency calls but do not enter structures to fight fires.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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