Submitted by DAVID M. PRYZBYSZ, Assistant Chief
Looking around, it’s not hard to see that Chippewa is a place of growth. Just look at all the changes in the last year or so!
Dunkin’, Taco Bell, a car wash, and Bowser Chevrolet are just a few new additions to our commercial landscape. A new housing development has been started off 37th street extension and homes are being added to several existing neighborhoods.
This growth means greater responsibility for the fire department.
Last year we responded to over 800 calls for fires, alarms, accidents, and medical assists. This year we are at nearly 300 calls in the first quarter alone.
As our township grows and expands, we continually update our response plans to provide the best possible protection and assistance that we can. This includes adding neighboring departments to our run cards.
Why do we do that? Because today’s fire emergencies require more manpower and more apparatus than ever before.
When our fire department was established back in 1927, it was chartered with a maximum membership of 50 people. We haven’t seen numbers in that range for decades. Today we have a roster of 25 members. Fortunately for us, the majority are active members, however, due to employment and family obligations, we average six to eight firefighters per call.
If you have ever thought of joining the fire department, now is a great time!
It is such a unique and exciting way to give back to your community and to help someone when they need it most.
The fire department is a dynamic organization with something going on all the time.
To be a firefighter requires a lot of dedication and determination. It is physically demanding and requires hours of continuous training. It can be exhilarating and rewarding but, it’s not for everybody.
For those not interested in fighting fires, there are several support positions available.
For the medically trained, we have QRS personnel that respond to medical emergencies. The fire police unit provides traffic control at emergency scenes and social members assist our ranks with our social functions and fundraisers.
We can always use the extra help at our carnival, glow ball golf outing, and corn hole tournaments.
And of course, we attend several community events throughout the year such as the township Community Day and various school and church presentations.
We know there are people out there with all kinds of talents. Maybe you are into photography and would like to take pictures at our calls and events or maybe you’re the type of person that likes to do odd jobs and wouldn’t mind helping to maintain our building and equipment.
If being a member of our fire department family sounds like something that may interest you, give us a call or reach out to us on Facebook or on our website. You can also stop in almost any Tuesday evening. We will be glad to sit down and have a conversation with you.
