When Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company was asked two years ago if it had a community service program that would qualify as a high school senior community project graduation program, the answer was, “No, but we can put one together.”

William Fisher, a WSVFC firefighter, engineer and a director on the fire company board, stepped forward to design, publicize and coordinate the program. Participants have been high school students with community service requirements, those interested in the fire service and Scouts working toward Eagle Scout badge requirements.

Early in March, five participants completed the program and will receive their community service credits. Last year, the program had three teens complete the program.

Candidates must be in grades eight through 12, Salisbury Township residents or residents of adjacent communities whose fire companies are mutual-aid partners of WSVFC. The program is intended to support high school graduation requirements, Scouting badge requirements, or those looking to supplement their postsecondary college entry or employment search process.

With instruction assistance from WSVFC officers and the company’s medical team leadership and contributions from mutual aid partners, the program runs between November and March and offers 15 hours of community service over five sessions. It provides the opportunity to engage in local volunteerism, learn about emergency services and basic emergency skills that can make the participants more valuable members of their communities.

The first meeting of the group provides an introduction to services rendered by volunteers of the WSVFC and an introduction of the layout and functions of equipment and emergency response vehicles at the fire station and firefighter personal protective gear. It also includes a discussion of the basics of fire safety, the 911 emergency dispatch process and the design portion of a hands-on project to help support fire company operations.

In 2022, program participants built a portable replica of an engine hose compartment to assist new firefighters in learning the proper stowage of hoses after a fire. Firefighters must return hoses to the fire engine in particular stowage patterns so they are easily pulled from an engine at the next emergency response.

This year’s team designed and built a replica of a home window casement for training fire crews. It helps to simulate engaging a fire and utilizing rescue techniques via window entry, when other entrances are blocked by fire or otherwise restricted.

The second session focuses on the completion of project design and the beginning of the manufacturing and assembly process.

The third session includes modules from a Red Cross First Aid instruction course and the completion of the service project.

The fourth session provides participants with a hands-on CPR and AED certificate course and a module on the identification of hazardous materials in the home and the community is presented.

The final session is the most popular part of the course.

Participants review the basics of personal protective equipment and suit up in full fire gear. They learn the basics of hydraulics and fire suppression, the essentials of teamwork and the basics of hose advancement at a fire.

This early-March Saturday morning session allowed participants to suit up, attach hoses to a hydrant and engine and advance hoses to fight a simulated fire.

The hands-on session was under the supervision of seasoned WSVFC and neighboring department firefighters. The combined fire service experience represented by the supervising firefighters this year exceeded 125 years.

The hands-on simulated fire suppression session is so popular that participants from last year’s inaugural program asked to be included in this year’s exercise while they were home from college on spring break.

Fisher said the program is designed to provide an experience in volunteer engagement, as well as meaningful learning opportunities.

“It provides opportunities for personal development, teamwork and communication training, as well as multi-generational relationship building and mentoring,” Fisher said.

“We want to share basics in organizational, mechanical and technical skills, and share the basics of decision making in critical situations. The program also allows us to incorporate instruction in the sciences like chemistry, physics, health and human behavior and for participants to see how they apply in real-life emergency situations.

“The feedback we have received from participants and family members has been highly positive,” Fisher said, “but the opportunity to work with young people and experience their enthusiasm for the program has also been highly motivating for our own firefighters.”

In addition to this year’s WSVFC community service program, four of this year’s participants enrolled in the first module of a basic firefighting certificate program taught by instructors from the Bucks County Community College.

That curriculum is the initial formal training required of all regional volunteer fire company candidates.

For information about the 2023-2024 Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company Community Service Program, email Fisher at William.Fisher@westernsalisbury.org or by mail at Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company, 950 S. Ott St., Allentown, 18103.