Profiles in Volunteerism: Junior Firefighter Jimmy Skibo

Name: Jimmy Skibo

Age: 18

Lives in: Lower Saucon Township

Job: Dewey Fire Company Junior Firefighter

Fire company: 

Training so far: Essentials

What's being a volunteer firefighter like?

“It’s fun. It gives you something to do and keeps you out of trouble. It’s like a family down here, so if you have troubles at home, you come down here and forget all about it.”

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

“They don’t mind. They think it’s cool that I’m doing something for the community. Like I said, it keeps me out of trouble. My mom gets worried every once in a while but my brother also volunteers here and she knows he watches out for me. She thinks it’s cool.”

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

“It was up on the highway, probably the first accident that I’d actually seen. If it weren’t for a person on the highway pulling a lady out of her car, I don’t think she would’ve made it. Just seeing her laying on the ground in pain and getting the help she needed, it hit me--knowing that the car was on fire and she could’ve been in there. People who aren’t firefighters actually care about other people if they need it.”

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

“It’s really fun here. It’s a good group of people here. Everybody cares about everybody. Like I said, it’s like another family. You learn a lot from other people. The older guys here show you a lot and even the juniors, we show each other stuff and learn. It’s a good learning experience and if you want to do something for the community, it’s where you should go.”