Profiles in Volunteerism: Junior Firefighter Derrick Deschler

Name: Derrick Deschler

Age: 18

Lives in: Hellertown

Job: Lehigh University Event Staff, Dewey Fire Company Junior Firefighter

Fire company:

Training so far: Essentials (almost completed to become an interior firefighter), Water Rescue Awareness, CPR, First Aid, Rapid Intervention Team Awareness

What's being a firefighter like?

“It’s different from what you see in movies and TV shows. It’s a lot more rewarding than what they show. It’s a lot more fun and it’s just great.”

How do your loved ones feel about you putting your life in danger?

“My dad is pretty supportive of me because he knows it’s what I want to do and what I love. He’s all for it. He just tells me to be safe and he’ll see me when I get home.”

Tell us a story you'll never forget about your firefighting experience.

“Up on the highway about a year ago, a car came on the highway and didn’t see the tractor-trailer that was already on the highway. The truck hit him, crossed over the median and hit a motorcyclist. That hit me pretty hard. That’s my most memorable one, definitely. The most fun on-calls we have are pump details. We get to pick and choose who gets to go in the water next. We find a lot of stuff floating in the middle of the road or in people’s basements that they didn’t even know they had! Stuff gets stuck inside the pumps...it’s always something different.”

What would you tell people interested in joining your fire company?

“Definitely come down. There are a lot of great people here. It’s definitely a second home. If you’re bored and you don’t have anything to do, you come down and hang out with the guys. It’s definitely rewarding and worth the time and effort. You can make a career out of it or you can do it on the side. You meet a lot of people. It’s a lot of fun. It’s hard work if you want to push yourself. It’s a challenge, so if you like a challenge, here it is right in your hometown.”