Twin Valley Fire Dept. gets new chief
ELVERSON » In the course of the 30 years that Jason Brooks has been involved in emergency services, he has gotten plenty of satisfaction from helping the community. But one incident in particular was very special to him.
“The month after 9/11, I had the honor and opportunity to work at Ground Zero,” he recalled.
At the time, he was serving in the Coast Guard as a corpsman medic and a shipboard aircraft firefighter, while stationed at a Coast Guard clinic in Cape May, N.J.
“I was asked by my department supervisor if I, along with other members of the Coast Guard, would agree to be transferred to Manhattan and Staten Island for a month to assist in several tasks.” Brooks, along with other members of both Coast Guard’s Atlantic Strike Team and District 5 Critical Incident Stress Management Response Team, were serving as part of mission “Operation Guarding Liberty.”
“When I first arrived at Ground Zero, I looked at the devastation and got angry about the horrific tragedy that claimed so many innocent lives. However, you have to take your mind off of that for the time being and focus on what you and your team members are there for. Our mission was to support, give encouragement and to talk with the emergency personnel on what they are thinking and undertaking. We were an outlet for them so they would not internalize their emotions,” explained Brooks.
This year marked the culmination of his 30 years of emergency services when he was elected fire chief of the Twin Valley Fire Department.
Born in Upper Darby, Delaware County, Brooks lived within walking distance of the Cardington Stonehurst Fire Company. His best friend’s dad was a career firefighter and Brooks, along with his friend, would often visit the firehouse. “I looked at the apparatus and spoke with the firemen. I was fascinated with that environment,” stated Brooks.
When his family moved to Honey Brook in Chester County, the 14-yearold Brooks went to the fire company to inquire about the age you had to be to join. “I could not believe it when the fire official informed me that I could join now. I leaped at the opportunity,” said Brooks. After he was familiar with the fire trucks, he then joined their ambulance corps.
Upon graduating from Twin Valley High School, he joined the Coast Guard for 10 years.
For the last 16 years, Brooks has been involved in two emergency service organizations. His primary career job is at Minquas Fire Company No. 2 and Ambulance in Downingtown, Chester County, as firefighter/emergency medical technician, ems sergeant, and assistant supervisor; his other role is as a volunteer firefighter with Twin Valley Fire Department.
In his two-year-elected term as fire chief, Brooks has set for himself several goals that he would like to accomplish.
“I want to increase the membership through a diligent recruitment/education program; this includes attending community events and visiting local schools and educating students about the age requirements and the various ways to volunteer. Second, anytime you see our garage doors open or see trucks and cars on our parking lot on Thursday nights when we train, please stop by to ask us questions, take a tour of the facility or if you prefer, just look over our various pieces of firefighting apparatus. Third, to work with the coordinator of Chester County Safe Schools to promote positive interactions with the police department, fire department, and the local schools so we can have a safer environment for the students,” said Brooks.