Mary Fulton’s passion for firefighting began in the mid-80s as an undergraduate, but as a woman, she was initially turned away from her local fire company. Undeterred, she joined the community’s EMS organization, gaining valuable experience, though her desire to become a firefighter remained.
After graduation, Mary moved to Central Pennsylvania, where she gave firefighting another shot at Northeast Fire and Rescue Company. This time, her experience was everything she had hoped for and more.
“When I joined the fire department, there were already other women volunteering there. They welcomed me in and were ready to train me right away,” said Mary. “I grew up with a family that was very involved in volunteer work in church and Boy and Girls Scouts, and it is essential to me to give back to my community.”
She joined the department before its 2011 merger and began as a volunteer firefighter at Summerdale Fire Company. While the Department typically responds to vehicle accidents, fires and cardiac arrests, it also participates in Cumberland County’s technical rescue team, providing volunteers with specialized training and rescue experience.
“If you like a challenge, this is something that you should do. On the fire side, there’s a lot of physical activity you have to do during training drills and emergency calls, but I enjoy it,” she said.
Mary is now retired but draws on her 30+ years of IT experience as the department’s recording secretary, which requires her to attend meetings and manage minutes, handle member correspondence and track donations.
“We have a lot of women in our fire company, both on the fire and administrative side. In the volunteer service, we need as much support as we can get, and everyone is welcome to join,” said Mary.
Northeast Fire & Rescue Company is one of the 21 fire companies included in the Capital Region Firefighter Recruitment grant. For residents located on the East Shore, West Shore and Capital Region, no prior experience is needed to join, and training and gear are provided at no cost.
“My favorite part about being a volunteer is just being able to come together and help people in need. It’s a great way to give back, and you really can make such a profound impact as one person,” she added.
Visit www.CapitalRegionFirefighter.org to submit a volunteer inquiry form and get connected with your local fire company.