Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
GOOD WILL FIRE INSTALLS DORMS
Volunteer firefighters can stay overnight at firehouse
WEST CHESTER » Good Will Fire Company No. 2 has discovered a way to revitalize the all- volunteer organization.
Twenty- five volunteer firefighters at Good Will answer fire calls and save millions of tax dollars, in a day and age when volunteer fire fighters are decreasing in numbers.
Firefighters now live at no cost in “dorms” at the firehouse, at 552 E. Union St. Renovations cost $ 70,000, which was all paid
for through community donations. Work started in the fall of 2019. The first of four volunteers moved in three months later.
Steve Crum is GoodWill’sVice President and said the fire company needed to “think outside the box.”
GoodWill is likely the first fire company in Chester County to have fire fightersmove in for the long- term through a live- in program. A bunk room also houses additional volunteers during special circumstances.
“Volunteerism has changed drastically,” Crum said. “In the
past you could just contact friends and neighbors and they would join.
“People don’t volunteer like they used to. Ifwe keep doing the same thing, we keep getting the same results.”
All the current residents work full- time and are required to spend at least 40 hoursperweekat thestation.
All of Good Will’s firefighters are nationally certified and undergo about 200 hours of training before certification,
along with four hours per week of continuing education.
“That time commitment for training required today is far more than was required 20 years ago,” Mike DiMeo, assistant chief, said.
DiMeo said that volunteers are a “dying breed.” The live- in program creates a culture where firefighters are engaged and want to hang out, while improving overall staffing, he said
The four male residents, aged between 20 and 30, receive a bed andmattress, mini- fridge, closet, bureau, Internet Wi- Fi service, use
of a washer and dryer and kitchen privileges.
Marcus Pearce is a livein firefighter and as a legacy firefighter he has a passion for service.
“I enjoy running calls, driving the engines and hanging out with the guys,” he said.
There are community benefits from hosting livein firefighters.
“For us to have people here and get the trucks on the road quicker provides a better service to the community,” Michael Cotter, past fire chief said.
DeShon Jones is a live- in
firefighterwho enjoys building a brotherhood.
“I always wanted to be a live- in firefighter and given that opportunity I had to takeadvantageof it,” he said. “Beingat a firehouse youfeel like you’re more involved than if living at home.”
Good Will has been located at its current spot for 16 years since moving from 36 E. Gay St.
If anybody wants to tour the station, stop by on a Monday night at 7 p. m. The Good Will fundraising letter drive is about to startup. Formore information, go to www. goodwillfireco. org.