Come visit us today from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at the Cranberry Mall as some members from Seneca VFD will be there to provide information to the public on services rendered and to remind the community that we are always looking for more assistance.
The Seneca Volunteer Fire Department needs you.
A 2014 article in The New York Times said that in most places in America, when a fire breaks out, it’s a volunteer who will show up, and that there are twice as many volunteers as there are career firefighters.
But volunteer firefighter numbers have dwindled over the years. Why? Well, there are many reasons.
- Fewer young people are stepping in to take the place of firefighters who retire.
- It might not be easy for some households with two working parents to have one parent who has to leave in a hurry to battle a blaze.
- Higher and more demanding training requirements.
- There are a number of issues preventing some from volunteering even if they wanted to. This list could go on without end.
But what about you?
A shortage of volunteer firefighters might not seem like a big deal. But what happens when you need them? Or when someone you love needs them?
Volunteer firefighters don’t get paid. They do the job solely for their neighbors and community.
Fighting fires is just one aspect of what firefighters do. They also provide public service, go out on EMS calls and assist in various rescues. In short, they do a lot for the benefit of their communities.
It takes more than just rushing to the scene of a blaze or a car accident to keep volunteer fire departments running. Volunteers and members can also help out in administration and fundraising. The Seneca Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for volunteers to help out in one way or another to ensure the community always has a crew ready to temporarily leave their families and jobs to save someone’s home – or their life – from an emergency.
So if you think maybe you can help in any way – and trust me, you can – you are welcome to contact any existing member of the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department, visit their website at www.SenecaVFD.org, or check out the fire department’s Facebook page, which can be found by searching “Station 24 Seneca Volunteer Fire Department.”
And if you think maybe you couldn’t do the work required of being a member of a volunteer fire department, remember this: even the most seasoned firefighter started out with no experience simply by making the decision to get involved to help his community. And go from there.
*Thanks to Kristi Runyan for the assist in this document – SVFD
