What It's Like to be a Volunteer Firefighter at the Horseheads Fire Dept.
HORSEHEADS, NY (WENY) -- The Horseheads Fire Department is hosting its annual Fire Prevention Open House on Friday, October 11th. To get a feel for what it would be like to become a firefighter, members of the Horseheads Fire Dept. talked about what it is like in the day in the life of a volunteer firefighter.
When firefighter Art Sullivan reports for duty, he starts by checking the log from the day before. Then, he checks what chores need to be done, followed by getting equipment ready in an emergency.
"Falls, difficulty breathing, MVAs (motor vehicle accidents), chest pain, it's a variety. There [isn't] a specific thing we go to a lot," said Sullivan.
When a service call comes in, fire fighters leap into action. The standard for getting firefighter gear on with a self contained breathing apparatus is within two minutes. Without one, the goal is to be ready within one minute. First, a firefighter puts on their boots, pants, then the radio pack, followed by the turnout coat.
"[I then] take my mic out, put it off to the side, grab a helmet, and off we go," said Assistant Fire Chief, Ricky Skebey as he zipped up his turnout coat.
When firefighters aren't out on a call, they're sometimes working out, or occasionally making an apple pie. But when they do respond to a car accident, fire, or medical emergency, they take things very seriously.
"Obviously your adrenaline increases and you have to control that and think properly. [Also,] that your officers on the scene give you the right directions... Depending on the call, you want to take the appropriate truck/equipment. The main thing is safety. When we leave, we have to have our emergency lights on, that we're secured in our vehicle the proper way. When we get on scene, we have to do a 'size-up' and that's again scene safety... If the scene is not secure, we would stage back until a police agency arrives," said Sullivan.
Sullivan said one thing about becoming a firefighter is that you have to be caring and want to help people. Lieutenant Mike Kartychak encourages people to become volunteers at their local fire department as there's something for everyone to do.
"You [get to] interact with your community members, you get to know a lot of people, and it's exciting. No one can sit down and say they don't like running a fire truck with lights and sirens. Alright, so, it might be 2 a.m. and snowing, but then again it's interesting work, it gives you a skill that you don't normally get any place else," said Lt. Kartychak.
If you'd like to become a volunteer firefighter, you can stop into the Horseheads Fire Dept. or come to the Fire Prevention Open House. You can also email the department at horseheadsfd@gmail.com. The Open House is happening on Friday, Oct. 11th at 5:30 p.m. at the fire department on N. Main St.
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