SO WHO ARE WE?
We are dedicated residents of your community. We are your neighbors, co-workers, and friends. We are the same people
you see at market, in the bank, at the laundry mat. We are you, the community.
All members of the department are volunteers. We respond from home, work, family functions, where ever we happen to be.
When the whistle blows or the pager goes off we are there. We are average people with specialized training in the fire &
medical industry. Our members go through firefighter training based on a national standard, the NFPA - National Fire
Protection Association and the EMS personnel are trained through the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
IS THERE A JOB FOR YOU?
Firefighters
Most of what people think is based on TV and movies, firefighters running into a burning building with their coat wide open
and not wearing any breathing device. This perception, although exciting to watch, is incorrect on several levels. Fighting
fire takes a lot of training. All firefighters should be trained the minimum of "Essentials". This training consists of
EXTERIOR FIREFIGHTER - 42 HOURS which introduces new firefighters to exterior fire ground operations. To become
an "Interior" Firefighter the next would be INTERIOR FIREFIGHTER - 60 HOURS. This course introduces new
firefighters to interior fire operation including nozzles and streams, self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), rescue,
ventilation, fire suppression, salvage, and firefighter survival. Firefighting is based upon many different jobs, all equally
important for success of extinguishing a fire as well as the safety of the crew. You can be a firefighter without ever being
inside a burning structure. Everyone has a role on a fire scene. There are several levels of firefighting with numerous
trainings and certifications you can receive from both the department in which you run and on state and national levels. No
one is ever sent into a situation regardless of the job assigned, untrained and unprotected.
Jr. Firefighters
For the new Apprentice or Junior Firefighters they are put through an in house "Apprentice Firefighter" program. Here
they are supervised by the Junior Firefighter committee and/or the Officers of the company while they learn about the
Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG), Company "By-Laws" or rules, what all the equipment is and where it is located on
all the trucks, and what their role or participation level is during a call for service. NO junior member (below the age of 18)
may be allowed into a burning structure at any time.
Fire Police
Often over looked but a very essential part of a Fire Department. Fire Police go through special training put on by the State
Fire Academy and/or the Pennsylvania State Police. Fire Police are taught how to secure a scene, direct or re-route traffic
at that a scene. They are called to assist local and State Police for crowd control at special events, help maintain the peace
with unruly by standers, maintain a perimeter at the scene of a fire or car accident and a safe work environment. This is a
small part of what these essential people do for the Fire Service.
Rescue
The rescue squad is often comprised of firefighters and EMS personnel with a duel certification. As with the fire scene,
everyone has a job on a rescue scene. Scene safety and security is maintained by Fire Police or other fire personnel.
Specially trained personnel will carry out the rescue at hand, whether it be cutting some one out of a car or rappelling off the
side of cliff to rescue someone that has fallen. Some types of specialty training include but are not limited to the following:
high angle rope rescue, RIT or "Rapid Intervention Team" (which is used to rescue a down firefighter in a structure fire or
collapse), BVR or “basic vehicle rescue” (used to remove a vehicle from someone trapped inside), Swift Water Rescue,
Hazardous Materials training from Awareness to Operations level including Decontamination.
Swift Water Rescue
The Swift Water Rescue Team consists of several levels. Team members may take one or all of these levels. As a Water
Rescue Team member we are trained in self rescue, shore based rescue of a victim, planning, boat handling, moving water
tactics, boat rescue techniques, ice and cold weather rescue techniques from shore and direct contact, on up to advanced
rope techniques and direct swimming contact rescues in flood or swift water. Each member of the team has a minimum of 16
hours of Water Rescue training on up to a total of 64 hours of training for Swift Water Rescue Technician level status. We
presently have 19 members on our team with 6 at the technician level. Currently we have 6 additional members that are on
the verge of completing their technician level certification.
Auxiliary
The auxiliary's main function is to help support the fire department. The women and men of the auxiliary provide assistance
on the fire scenes with rehabilitation and follow up long and strenuous calls with meals and drinks for firefighter's health and
well being. They are also a key player behind the scenes with fund raisers, public relations, and upkeep of the station.
Administration
A fire department operates as a business would. There is a chain of command that is in charge of the actual running and
daily functions of the department off the scene of a call. Rules & regulations, finances & budgets, upkeep of the apparatus,
running of the meetings, etc. all fall under the duties of the administration and the committees they appoint.
EMS (Emergency Medical Services)
Majority of Susquehanna Fire Department calls for service are for the EMS. The ambulance responds to calls of a medical
or personal injury nature, as well as assisting the fire department on fires related calls. Our ambulances are "BLS" or
Basic Life Support Units. The ambulance is crewed by three different levels of trained personnel; attendants, first
responders, and EMT's (Emergency Medical Technicians). An attendant is trained on a basic level by a company to assist
medically trained personnel on a scene. Jobs could include: driving, lifting assistance, gathering supplies from the
ambulance, and very basic supervised medical application. A first responder is trained and certified by the Pennsylvania
Department of Health to perform basic life saving medical care. Most of a first responder's care is supervised by an EMT.
EMT's are trained and certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Heath to perform the highest level of patient care that
can be given by a BLS service. EMT's are in charge of an ambulance call and make decisions as far as how patient care will
be carried out.
Fire Prevention
Every year the Susquehanna Community Elementary School calls upon the Fire Department during “Fire Prevention”
month to put a presentation on fire safety. During these programs the students are educated on FIRE ESCAPE PLANS,
SMOKE DETECTORS, and many other fire safety issues. These students are also given a tour of the Fire Apparatus with
the assistance of “SPARKY” the Fire Dog.
Website & Photography
the Susquehanna Fire Department has a website built and maintained by the membership. SFD is always willing and
wanting to take on members to maintain the website. Both still photos and video are wanted. Photos would be requested
from the scene of a call, social events, fund raises, trainings, etc.