High school students looking to build their resume in 2025 can draw some inspiration from three junior firefighters who joined Hampden Township Volunteer Fire Company in 2024– Natalie Herd, James Manning and Elissa Mellon.
The Capital Region Council of Governments hopes that these three volunteers’ stories will serve as the catalyst for other teenagers to join their local volunteer fire company via www.CapitalRegionFirefighter.org/Contact/.
Natalie Herd, 15, Student at Commonwealth Charter Academy
Herd, eager to pursue a career in paramedicine, was determined to get involved in emergency services as soon as possible and became a junior firefighter.
“You learn so many things when you’re just hanging around the station. I’ve gotten to throw ladders, pack hoses and learned how to care for different types of equipment,” said Herd.
In what is considered a male-dominated field, Herd was welcomed into the station with open arms. In fact, Hampden Township Volunteer Fire Company operates with a large team including several female firefighters.
“I’ve been pushed to do more than I thought I was capable of, and I’ve found other woman figures to look up to in the fire service,” said Herd.
“Volunteering has given me goals to work towards, as well as knowledge and experience I don’t think I could have gotten anywhere else,” she added.
James Manning, 14, Student at Commonwealth Charter Academy
Manning has become stronger both physically and mentally since becoming a junior firefighter. He has learned how to set ladders, run hose lines and perform vehicular and building rescues through various training and simulation drills with an emphasis on teamwork.
“I definitely have much better communication skills and made a lot of friends after joining,” said Manning.
Manning even rang in his first holiday as a volunteer firefighter at the station, having Thanksgiving dinner with his family and several other volunteer families.
“They are just really nice people and will go out of their way to help you make sure you’re doing things the right way,” he added.
Elissa Mellon, 16, Student at Cumberland Valley High School
Mellon has a unique appreciation for the life-saving skills she has learned in the last year, especially
after she rendered aid to the victim of a car crash directly in front of her home.
“With the training I learned from the fire department, I was able to go out there and help before first responders even showed up to the scene,” she recalled.
Being able to help those in need is what drove Mellon to volunteer. She is also enrolled in a local vocational-technical school for nursing and finds her experience as a junior firefighter to be quite advantageous.
“A lot of the stuff I have learned from the fire department has played into my education as well,” she said, adding, “If you want to help people or feel involved in your community, you should definitely consider joining. It’s a great family atmosphere and you get to make a positive impact.”
How to Step Up, Gear Up and Volunteer
No prior experience is needed to get started volunteering with your local fire company. Training and gear are provided at no cost, and there are plenty of ways to get involved, whether volunteers are high school students or 18 and older, including:
Firefighter– Train to respond to fires, natural emergencies, vehicular accidents, search and rescue, water-related emergencies and more.
EMT– Administer pre-hospital medical care, transport the sick or injured to hospital and respond to rescue calls.
Fire Police– Direct traffic at the scene of an emergency call and assist firefighters.
Junior Firefighter– Gain experience and prepare to become a full member as an adult. Thanks to a new state law, juniors 17 and older can begin training to become a certified firefighter at 18.
Administrative Volunteer– Teach fire safety, assist at community events, fundraising and grant writing, bookkeeping, website, social media and more.
To volunteer with your local fire company, visit www.CapitalRegionFirefighter.org.