Pocono News Section

Busy Day for Loyalsock Fire Volunteers

Busy Day for Loyalsock Fire Volunteers - Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 5:50PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 @ 05:50pm EST
Loyalsock Township, Lycoming County-

As blizzard-like conditions touched down in central Pennsylvania, they kept local first responders moving. It was a busy day for live-in students at the Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Company.

While most of their Penn College classmates relaxed thanks to a snowy day off, live-in members here worked that much harder.

Matthew Orshaw, of Athens, said, "My first semester here was pretty rough. We do a lot of night calls and I had classes at 8AM so it was tough. So I did my own schedule this semester, made sure I had no 8AM's."

The group of live-in students head to class by day then live and volunteer at the fire house by night.

Stephanie Snyder, of Harrisburg, explained, "When we have tests, we do our best to schedule around it. So those people who are on duty shifts are usually the ones who don't have tests the next day. It depends, but we work it out."

They cook for themselves, clean up after themselves, and have their own private rooms.

And if they're not at school, they're assisting on fire and EMS calls. They head out whenever the other volunteers do, often several times a day.

Once they return, it's back to studying and classes.

The Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Company has been running the program for about a year and a half.

Assistant Fire Chief Tim Boush said, "It's just outstanding for us to be able to offer a program that benefits not only us in the fire company, but the community that we serve."

Even with their busy schedules, the live-in students find plenty of ways to have some fun, and blow off some steam- playing games like ping-pong and foosball.

Snyder noted, "It's really nice to be surrounded by people who are into the same thing that I am. Everyone's really nice here."

Orshaw added, "I mean, I love doing fire and EMS, but if I was living on campus I wouldn't be able to."

Instead they'll hang out here at the fire house, until the next big call comes their way.

There are currently five Penn College students taking part in the Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Company's live-in program.

Most are studying to become either full-time paramedics or firefighters.