Members

What Makes a Volunteer Firefighter?

A volunteer firefighter is a dedicated citizen, resident, neighbor and friend. Volunteers are ready to swing into action 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, sometimes taking time from their jobs or families to fight a fire. Members continually attend formal classes on the different aspects of firefighting, work countless hours on fundraising activities to raise money to purchase fire fighting equipment, and they do all this only for the good of the community, making no money themselves.
Readiness to fight fires and cope with other emergencies involve much more than owning equipment. Firemen must continually train and attend formal fire schools. Sometimes, this is accomplished locally in a semi-social fashion, limited to basics, such as laddering buildings, effecting mock rescues with ground and aerial apparatus, laying lines and practicing with different hose streams, foam drills with protein and hi-expansion foarms, self-contained breathing apparatus drills in abandoned buildings when they are available or at the station with furnishings rearranged and the mask face piece covered. Automotive fire and rescue classes are held when "old junkers" are available.

Formal training with state-certified instructors is utilized at the Allegheny County Fire Academy in North Park, with classroom programs followed by practical application of the same at extensive drill field facilities. Other formal training sessions are held locally with other mutual-aid fire companies under auspices of state-certified instructors.

Today, fire service participation is not limited to the male gender. Many women have joined the fire department in Bridgeville and surrounding communities; they do the same work and go through the same training as their male counterparts.

Our membership currently includes members grouped by category: "Members" have been with department for over two years and of course, served their probation time. "Probation Members" are those members 18 years and older who joined but are in the process of serving their two-year probation period. "Junior Members" are those that have joined ages 14-17 years. When they turn 18 years of age, they will go on official probation for the two-year period. "Associate Members" are those that are members of the department but help in other ways other than fighting fires. Finally, "Furloughed Members" are members of the department, but live outside of the area.

MEMBERS (Lifetime, Regular, Probation, & Junior)

Fred Ayres, Nicole Ayres, John Backowski, Russell Beck, Maurice Brown, Bill Chilleo, Jim Corrins, Patrick Corrins, Kevin Daugherty, Bill Davis, Debbie Dolence, Jason Dolence, Barb Double, Rick Fagan, Greg Johnston, Jeff Lakes, Mike Kauer, Melvin Kerr, Howard Kirkland, David Kohler, David Martineck, Don McCaskey, Vevette McCaskey, Douglas McMillen, Jason Mechtel, Casey Miller, Bill Mills, Scott Mullen, Dave Rauch, Ed Ruffennach, Diane Shaffer, Emily Tomalewski, Ken Ursitz, Mike Ursitz, Tom Ursitz, & Melissa Zanie.

OFFICERS

In addition to the volunteer firefighters, there are still many other duties and responsibilities to be had at the department. As with any organization, the department has organized a board consisting of four members: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. In addition to the board, there is also a group of trustees and line officers. All are "elected" positions.

2008 Board

President: Maurice Brown; Vice President: Vevette McCaskey; Treasurer: Debbie Dolence; Secretary: Bill Davis

2008 Trustees

Casey Miller, Pat Corrins, Debbie Dolence, Vevette McCaskey, Ken Ursitz

2008 Line Officers

Chief Bill Chilleo; First Assistant Chief Dave Rauch; Second Assistant Chief Doug McMillen; Captain Kevin Daugherty; First Lt. Pat Corrins; Second Lt. Greg Johnston