The Upper Moreland Township Fire Department has launched a recruitment campaign to grow its team of volunteer firefighters.
“There is no greater reward than helping others on their worst day,” said Upper Moreland Township Fire Department Chief Ed Glassman.
And there’s no more exciting way to help others than being a firefighter, said volunteer Bud Tucker. “When you’re on the truck and you see the orange glow of the fire you’re heading to in the air, the adrenaline rush is phenomenal,” he said.
Anyone interested in joining the Upper Moreland Fire Department can learn more, sign up, or ask a question at its newly launched website, www.UpperMorelandFire.org.
No experience is necessary to become an Upper Moreland volunteer firefighter, Glassman added. “Volunteers will be provided with the training, equipment, knowledge, and skills they need to perform lifesaving measures, at no cost to them.”
A Crew with a History of Service
While new Upper Moreland Township Fire Department volunteers need only the desire to serve, the willingness to learn, and to be at least 18 years old, many existing Upper Moreland firefighters have extensive experience.
“I really like the people I serve with, paid and volunteer. It’s a team and a brotherhood,” said Volunteer Firefighter Dante Newman. “That relationship you have with everybody is what makes this fire department so strong.”
Building for the Future
Volunteers Tucker, 61, and Newman, 26, agree that it’s an exciting time to volunteer with Upper Moreland Township Fire Department and have a role in growing the new volunteer side of the department.
Whether new or experienced, everyone learns together and from each other, Tucker added. “The fire service is always changing, and this department is always on the cutting edge of knowledge and making sure you have what you need to be the best firefighter,” he said.
“I love the training we do, and learning so many different things,” said Newman.
An Exciting Place to Serve & Learn – With No Fundraising!
Not only is Upper Moreland Township Fire Department an exciting place to learn, it’s a place where firefighters will use everything they learn to protect the lives and property of 26,000 township residents plus those who work, shop, visit, or travel in the 7.5 square miles the department serves.
“This is an exciting township for firefighting,” said Chief Glassman. “We have everything from high rise buildings to townhomes to single family homes and, of course, industrial areas. Accidents on the turnpike and local roads also hone our lifesaving skills.”
Upper Moreland Township completely funds the fire department, which means volunteers do not have to find time for fundraising and can focus their time and effort on training and emergency response.
Training and responding together create strong bonds and life-long friendships that feel like family, Tucker said. It’s a family that’s poised to grow.
“We always make new people feel welcome,” Newman said.