Fires tamed with students' help

Many University students are involved in activities outside of classes. Some are members of a fraternity or sorority, some play sports -- and some save lives.

Smith, a rescue captain at the fire company, trains weekly, learning and also offering advice to other volunteer firefighters. Smith, who has been with the company for four years, is one of about 20 University students who volunteer time at the fire company.

"I feel so much more like a part of the community," Smith said. "I get to see it from a different perspective than most students."

The training student volunteers receive is diverse -- they spend time watching videos, doing inspections and taking part in other inside activities. There is also a training site behind campus where volunteers can get hands-on training. Although it is mostly used in the spring and summer, training does take place in the winter.

"You fight fires in the cold, so you have to train in the cold," Smith said.

The fire company consists of five captains: two engine captains, two truck captains and one rescue captain. As the rescue captain, Smith is responsible for maintenance and for his crew. He supervises the crew inside the company and offers training on his rescue specialty.

All volunteers must be state certified, and those who are not are called probationary firefighters and cannot enter a burning structure. After people are certified by passing a written and skills test, they are able to perform all the duties of a volunteer.

Most of the students who volunteer at the company have previous firefighter experience, but some began their careers in State College.

Dennis Radtke (junior-civil engineering) just joined the company in December.

"It's a thrill to be able to put out a fire," he said. "It's an adrenaline rush -- like jumping out of an airplane."

Some of the volunteers may spend as many as 50 hours per week at the company helping out, but they do find time for class work.

"In between running calls, I have the opportunity to study and get my work done," said Dennis Harris (junior-industrial health and safety).

Telephone calls to the fire company range from four to 30 calls each week; football weekends are especially busy.

The company also covers a very large area, as compared to other volunteer fire companies.

"We cover so much area and such diverse people," said Gregory Rogalski (junior-civil engineering). "From barns to Alexander Court."

Rogalski, who has been with the company for two years, said it is uncommon for an area with a dense population of college students to not have a career fire department.

Although most student volunteers do not experience tragic emergencies every day, there are plenty of calls that can be scary.

"Once there was a rescue call for a school bus and a pickup truck," said Jeffrey Josephson (junior-marketing). "The drivers were the only ones hurt, but just the thought of kids in a bad wreck made me feel sick."

When the volunteers are not running calls, they spend time at the company with each other.

"I get to meet a lot of people most students don't get the opportunity to meet," Smith said. "Most of my best friends are here."

Rogalski agrees with Smith about the closeness the volunteers share.

"It's like a family," Rogalski said.

The student volunteers agree that their time spent at the fire company is worth the effort.

"It's rewarding when you know how to help people," Smith said. "You feel like you're making a difference. I really see the results of what we do."