Members Attain Interior Firefighter Status

For many of us, the memories of the summer between our senior year of high school and college include senior beach trips, parties, and preparing for that all important first year of college. Not many can lay claim to spending that summer on the grounds of a fire training academy learning the basics of firefighting in 90-degree temperatures and crawling down the hot smoky halls of a training burn building. That’s exactly how members David Eichenlaub (pictured on left) and Joe Kunz (pictured on right) spent the last couple weeks as they successfully completed the PA Entry Level Firefighter Training Program at the Allegheny County Fire Academy to attain Interior Firefighter status with the Wexford VFC. David is a 2018 graduate of Pine-Richland, and Joe is a 2018 graduate of North Allegheny. Both guys started with the Wexford Volunteer Fire Company as junior members and were able to complete much of the entry level training program before turning 18. While they understandably could have left their firefighting training and duties aside as they prepare for life after high school, these guys have chosen to not only complete the entry level fire training but will also be serving as live-in members at our main station on North Chapel Drive.

David will be attending Kent State University and plans to live-in until his departure for school in mid-August. Joe will be starting an apprenticeship with the Steamfitters Local 449 and intends to start live-in membership later this summer. We congratulate David and Joe on their academic and firefighting achievements. We also wish them the best as they prepare for the future and thank them for their service with the Wexford Volunteer Fire Company.