Isn’t it amazing how time seems to go by so quickly?
It wasn’t all that long ago that I was writing about all the activities the Fire Department had planned for the summer and now I am already looking back at those times and looking forward to what the fall season has to bring us. We had a great summer, and we hope you did as well.
Many of our members advanced their knowledge and skills by achieving certifications like Emergency Medical Responder,
Firefighter I and Firefighter II as well as Basic and Advanced Vehicle Rescue Technicians.
Obtaining these certifications was time- consuming and took sacrifice on the part of our members and their families.
We are so grateful for the dedication of these members. This training adds to the overall skill set of our department, enabling us to better protect our community.
As of August 1, 2022, we have responded to almost 500 emergency calls. We consider each call a battle—a battle that we fight hard to win every time that we are called to service.
The reality is that not every battle we fight can be won and sadly, we lost a couple of those battles this summer.
When there is a fire, an automobile accident, or other type of emergency, we feel for the victims. We feel for the families, and we offer prayers, condolences, and other gestures of comfort, but often forgotten are the first responders.
We train to save lives and property and when we fail to do so, regardless of the odds that were against us from the start, we take that home with us. We have to own that, despite our best efforts and all of our training, that we did not meet our desired outcome.
That’s where your support makes a difference. Not just your financial support which, quite frankly, we couldn’t survive without, but your emotional support as well.
When we are at an event and someone stops to tell us how much we are appreciated or a child remembers their favorite firefighter from a preschool visit, smiles and gives them a hug, those are the things that keep us going, that allow us to continue to do what we do.
This summer we were blessed with many gifts of food, water, and other supplies and we are so appreciative.
We were honored to participate in the Blackhawk High School class of 2022 senior graduation parade and celebration. It is our hope that these graduates continue to honor their families and their community in all their future endeavors.
Being a part of the Chippewa Community Day was a wonderful experience.
We showed off our trucks, ran kids through our firefighter’s challenge course, and talked to many residents about fire prevention. It was a great community event with food trucks, classic cars, bands, and vendors of all types!
Once again, our annual carnival was a huge success. Attendance was up, the weather was good, and the crowds were
great. If you didn’t see our fireworks show this year, you missed one of the best ones ever!
By the time this article goes to print, we will have already had our ever popular glow ball golf outing and our championship caliber corn hole tournament!
Our tip boards continue to be a huge success! There will be more great chances coming throughout the rest of the year.
In a joint effort with our Township management and the Beaver Falls Water Authority, we were able to have five new fire hydrants installed in various neighborhoods within the Township where hydrants didn’t exist. The addition of these hydrants will greatly enhance our firefighting capabilities.
It just goes to show that when people come together for the common good, great things can happen!
This fall we look forward to seeing everyone on Trick-or-Treat night, at football games, and other events.
Remember to continue safe fire prevention practices when cleaning up fall yard waste
or cooking that delicious Thanksgiving dinner.
Before you know it, we will be talking about Christmas parades and Santa stops!
Thank you, Chippewa, for all that you do for us. We look forward to continuing to serve you!
