The Alburtis Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 boasts two new volunteers.

Ryan Andreas and Kyle Lehman join Damian Nemeth and Matthew Molcham, all of whom are students at Emmaus High School, as new junior firefighters with the company.

Andreas lives in Alburtis with his parents and two brothers. The only other person in his family who was a firefighter is an uncle.

Andreas and Molcham volunteered together and for similar reasons.

“Basically it was something to do and keep me out of trouble. It will look good on a resume,” Andreas said.

Andreas likes learning new things and enjoys everything about the training but finds one thing difficult.

“Running up to the station for the call because I do not have a vehicle yet,” Andreas said.

The most memorable moment he experienced so far was hooking up a hydrant on his first call.

Andreas is currently studying in the auto body program at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute. If that career path does not work out Andreas wants to be a full-time firefighter. He looks up to the chiefs, captains and older firefighters and plans to stay as long as he can.

To anyone interested in being a firefighter Andreas would advise a trial period.

“I would tell them to try it first to see if they like it.”

Kyle Lehman volunteered with the Alburtis fire company because it is closer to his home in Macungie.

Lehman actually started training when he was a year younger but stopped to play sports, then joined again. After his training is complete Lehman will be the first firefighter in his family. He lives with his parents and has two brothers and a sister.

Lehman also works at the Glasbern Inn in Fogelsville. He keeps himself busy and enjoys everything he is doing.

“I joined firefighting because my dad is a paramedic for Macungie Ambulance Corps and I just kind of stuck with the whole rescue response team,” Lehman said.

After his high school graduation Lehman will go to school in Lancaster and is not sure he can stay with firefighting. Like Andreas, Lehman really likes learning new things and working with other people in team building. However, Lehman does not like sitting in fire company meetings.

Lehman looks up to the chief and assistant chiefs and lieutenants.

“They have had to do what I do and we look up to them. They had to learn what they are and have to be dedicated. I would like to be like them someday,” Lehman said.

“It’s a lot of long hours and dedication,” Lehman said of firefighting.