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Community Corner

Abington Senior High School Students Learn About Firefighter Training During Government Day on April 23

Abington Senior High School seniors stood wide-eyed as they took in the sight of the burned walls in Abington Township Fire Department’s (ATFD) fire training facility during Student Government Day April 23. ATFD welcomed over 30 students from the high school’s government classes, which also included a trip to the township Police and Public Works Departments.

Student Government Day is an annual event where seniors in Abington Senior High School’s government studies classes learn how the various municipal departments train employees and volunteers, in addition to how each has a major role in the community. ATFD hosted students at the fire training center they use for teaching volunteers how to handle fires, structural collapses and other emergencies. In addition, students saw the various apparatus the department needs to educate the community and rescue individuals from dangerous situations.

“I’ve been thinking about joining my local fire company,” student Jake Clark said. He said he has already talked with volunteers at McKinley Fire Company. “I think it’s amazing what firefighters do. While other people are running away from the building, they’re running in and trying to help people.”

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Clark said the tour of the facility helped further encourage him to consider joining the department, since he could actually see all the gear and training required to keep each firefighter safe. He said the decision to join is something that he takes seriously, considering a lot of time and dedication is required.

“This is a great recruitment opportunity for the department,” Roslyn Fire Company firefighter Jack Guntz said. He’s a prime example of the success the high school events have, since he first joined the station after seeing a demonstration at 16-years-old. “We have quite a few members who have the same story. This is a great way to keep new members coming into the fire department.”

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“This is an informative way to learn how the fire department works and what it takes to be a firefighter,” student Brendan Jenkins said. “It’s something that I’ve always wondered about, because I’ve never seen them in action. It’s been interesting.”

About Abington Township Fire Department

Abington Township Fire Department has been serving the community for more than 100 years and is made up of five volunteer fire companies: Abington, McKinley, Weldon, Edge Hill, and Roslyn. Approximately 235 volunteers belong to the department and dedicate their time and energy to keeping the community safe.

The ATFD is guided by its Mission Statement: The Abington Township Fire Department is a dedicated team of volunteer firefighters comprised of five individual fire companies unified as one department with a mission to provide excellent fire, rescue, fire prevention, and public education services to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community.

The fire department headquarters is located at 1176 Old York Road in Abington. For more information, call 267-536-1055 or visit www.abingtonfd.org.

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