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Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - From the Times Leader
Hughestown Volunteer Firefighters received praise at Monday night’s council meeting. The borough recently received official notification that, as of August of 2009, the state fire commissioner has recognized the volunteer fire department as a participating member of the Pennsylvania Fire Services Certification Program.
The program acts to recognize those departments that promote and encourage their members to voluntarily train and educate themselves in order to obtain official certification in the various emergency and rescue services that fire departments provide.
Fifty percent of the active Hughestown firefighters are not only statewide, but nationally certified firefighters. Council member Phil Falvo, himself a volunteer for more than 26 years, noted that the borough’s firefighters undergo approximately 3,000 hours of training each year. "A lot goes into being a firefighter these days," he said. "It’s not a question of just strapping on your gear and going to the fire anymore."
While Falvo stated his belief that the Hughestown Volunteers were always among the best departments in the area he acknowledge that the training has increased under the tenure of Chief Jamie Merlino.
Falvo described Merlino as "rigorous" with regard to his emphasis on training for official certification. He also pointed out that his passion serves not only to motivate the veteran firefighters but to inspire the up and coming firefighters. At the time of Monday’s meeting, several of the borough’s firefighters were taking part in an vehicle rescue class that was being conducted by state instructor John Lussi.
B. GARRET ROGAN Times Leader Correspondent
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