Pa. Fire Company in Search for Fire Police Members

The spirit of volunteerism and "giving something back" to the community forms the backbone of volunteer fire companies. It's been no secret that local fire companies have seen their share of membership decline over the past decade. Training, fundraising, work details and emergency calls, it's a major time commitment.

Perhaps the least publicly recognized victim of the decline in fire company membership has been in the fire police sector. Seldom in the spotlight for their work at an emergency scene, fire police may or may not be the first on the scene, but will undoubtedly be the last.

One of the county fire police units severely affected due to the membership decline is the Community Fire Co. of Cornwall Borough, according to fire police Capt. Mike Snyder.

Including Snyder, Cornwall currently has just four fire police officers to serve the 19.3-square-mile coverage area that includes the boroughs of Cornwall and Mt. Gretna as well as West Cornwall Township.

"We're extremely short-handed and are stretched to the limit," Snyder acknowledges, adding that neighboring Quentin Fire Co. has two fire police officers, while Mt. Gretna has none at all.

Elsewhere in the county, Citizens Fire Company of Palmyra has eight, but at one time, the company had 16. Union Hose Fire Co. in Annville has two fire police officers, but only one is active, , according to Chief Paul Longenecker. Bunker Hill Fire Co. has just two to serve Swatara Township.

"It's definitely not a problem exclusive to Cornwall," Chief Bruce Harris of the Cornwall Police Department concedes.

The shortage of manpower is a pressing problem for the police department as well. Dispatched automatically by pager for all fire calls and accidents, fire police are frequently requested for special assistance by the police department.

"We respond for downed trees, power outages or water main breaks," Snyder explains. "We might be out on the street for hours until power is restored or until we get some relief."

Fire police significantly reduce the burdens of the police department and therefore increase safety at the scene, according to Harris.

"They help us tremendously, especially when it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we're investigating an accident at 72 and 322," Harris says. "Thousands of cars are passing the scene, while we're working. They definitely free us to complete our investigation."

Last year Cornwall fire police officers completed a record year, responding to about 180 calls, due to the severe weather conditions, including a hurricane, snowstorm and flooding.

"We had call after call, back to back," Snyder recalls.

Long hours, lack of sleep and food, it was a situation faced by many first responders throughout the county.

"We couldn't just leave the road unprotected and leave our post to go for something to eat. And it's not like we could spare a member to send them out to bring us back food or coffee," Snyder says.

"The fire police provide a tremendous service to the police and fire departments, especially during National Night Out and for Trick or Treat," Harris says. "If we didn't have fire police to handle traffic and crowd control at community events, I'm not sure how we'd manage. Somehow our fire police always manage to get additional help. Response might be slow, but he (Mike) manages. He just really needs more help."

For special events, Cornwall calls on neighboring Penryn and Brickerville in Lancaster County for assistance. Recognizing Cornwall's dire manpower situation, two fire police officers from the latter company have pledged their assistance as needed for major incidents upon request.

"Their companies are in a better position as far as fire police," Snyder explains.

Both Harris and Snyder agree that the time commitment has been a major factor in the decline of membership growth.

"In most families, both husband and wife work all day and perhaps with stressful jobs with long hours. That just doesn't allow much time for volunteer activities," Harris says. "I think in part, our numbers have declined because our fire police are getting older and some had to give it up for health reasons. They've served their years, but what we don't have are the younger people to take their place."

And younger members are rarely inclined to choose fire police duties over firefighting.

"The younger people want to go all the way to the fire scene. They want to be near the action, and we don't see that," says Snyder, who began his career as a firefighter with Brickerville.

"I kind of fell into fire police," he says recalling his days in Brickerville. "I was available during the day and they needed fire police. So I was sworn in and helped the fire police in the daytime hours and ran fire calls at night."

Fire police are members of the fire company and as such must successfully pass a background check by the Pennsylvania State Police.

According to Snyder, all fire police are required to complete a 16-hour basic fire police course offered by the Lebanon County Fire Police Association, as well as a Hazardous Materials Awareness Class. Classes are offered a few times per year, however, the county sometimes has difficulty filling the 16-person minimum to run the class.

"They had three classes booked for the year, but I don't know if they will fly," Snyder explains.

Classes are scheduled on evenings and/or weekends to accommodate working schedules. The next class is scheduled to begin May 7.

Later this month the Cornwall fire police will take the Life Lion Landing Course, which will prepare them to assist the fire company by establishing landing zones.

All necessary gear/equipment is supplied to the volunteer, with the exception of any vehicle lights, Snyder explains.

Perhaps an unwritten piece of advice to any would-be fire police officer is that it doesn't hurt to have some patience and a "thick skin" to take some of the grief from disgruntled motorists.

"Fire police have the same authority as a police officer, when serving in that capacity," Harris said. "Motorists must abide by their directs."

Which doesn't necessary make for a pleasant encounter.

"You do take a certain amount of abuse," Snyder admits with a chuckle. "I get yelled at and flipped off too. Still, even so I enjoy helping the community. That's your pay for this job, the satisfaction."

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