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What does it take to be a volunteer firefighter with Mt. Penn Fire Co?

Not as much as one may think. Help is needed in all areas of emergency services and no prior experience is necessary. All of the costs associated with training are covered by the Mt. Penn Fire Company.  It certainly helps if you have a desire to help your community, your neighbors, and possibly your own family. It does take time to learn, train, and maintain the skills necessary to assist in emergency situations. Weekly training is held to refresh our skills. All we need is your dedication. It requires true commitment but the rewards gained from the personal satisfaction you receive makes it well worth the effort.

Who can become a member of the Mt. Penn Fire Company?

Anyone. Help is needed in all areas of the Fire Company. The Mt. Penn Fire Co. is responsible for our own fundraising, record keeping, and the other normal business operations of any company. All of these tasks are performed by the volunteer members of the fire company. The Mt. Penn Fire Co is a 100% volunteer work environment that values health, wellness, and cultural diversity and is free of harassment and discrimination.

Are there any age Restrictions?

State law requires that you be 18 to participate in some areas of the fire service, however we have a Junior Firefighter program for those volunteers between the ages of 14 and 18 to begin learning the basics. These programs help to pave the way to further advancement and training after a volunteer turns 18. There is no age cap on volunteering in the Fire Service.

Why should I become a member?

The rewards vary from individual to individual here are just some of the benefits that members have noticed:

• Paid training in specialties that you pick provided through local, county, and state fire training programs at no charge.
• Pride of serving your community.and a job well done
• The opportunity and the ability to make a difference
• Develop new skills and use your existing skills to help others
• Explore new areas of interest
• Get out of the house
• Connect with and meet new people and build new friendships
• State Tax Credits may be available

How do you get notified of Emergencies?

The Berks County Department of Emergency Services personnel utilize a radio pager dispatch system along with a Computer Aided Dispatch system to alert companies that help is needed. The Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) will send a text message to your cellphone to alert you of an incoming call. Pagers will be provided by the Mt. Penn Fire Co at no cost to firefighters.

What if I’m at work or busy when an incident is reported?

It is a volunteer service. No one can be available at all times. While some employers are willing to let employees leave for an incident, others may not be able to do so.

What is the Next Step to Join the Mt. Penn Fire Co.?

In order to join the Mt Penn Fire Company, an individual should come to the firehouse and ask for an application. A member of the company will gladly hand you an application and answer any questions you may have about becoming a volunteer. This is also a wonderful time to take a tour of our station.

Once you have completed the application, return it to any member at the fire house. At the next fire company meeting (which is held the first Friday of every month) your application will be proposed to the company members. This allows members to discuss the application and voice any comments before the next company meeting.  During the following month, the membership committee will review your application and a criminal background check through the Pennsylvania State Police will be conducted. While your application is being investigated by our fire company you are more than welcome to come to the firehouse on Tuesday evening for training and to meet the guys and begin learning some new things. You can ask what other nights would be good for you to come around after you hand in your application. At the next fire company meeting the committee will either accept or deny your application for membership based on the investigation.

If recommended, the members of the company will then vote on your membership. Once accepted, you will be notified after which you then will be considered a part of our emergency service organization.

When ready, you will be sent to the Berks County Fire Training Center to begin or  further your education in the Fire service and the Emergency Medical Service. Upon successful completion, you will be recognized by the members at a small ceremony and be ready to move on to the next step in your training. These courses are the base courses to further your volunteer career in emergency services for Fire and EMS. Training times may vary depending on what further aspects of the fire service you want to get involved in. We are glad for your interest in the Mt. Penn Fire Company and would love to see you become a member of our team

For more information please contact:
Captain Richard Lombardo Jr. 610-779-6723 or RLombardo2@MtPennFire.com
Captain David Okonski 610-779-6723 or DOkonski@MtPennFire.com