Sunbury, Shikellamy oping to start junior firefighters club

Mar. 27—SUNBURY — Sunbury officials want to start a junior firefighters club and could partner with Shikellamy School District to recruit new volunteers.

Councilman John Barnhart is leading the charge and told members of the public on Monday he met with High School Principal Marc Freeman and Shikellamy Police Chief Shawn Williams about getting a club started inside the district.

"We are going to see how we can work together on this," Barnhart said. "We need to get younger people involved in the fire department and we are looking at every possible way."

School directors Tom Webb and Jenna Eister-Whitaker said starting a club in the district would be valuable.

"Who would not be for getting this type of club started in our district?" Webb said. "I am 100 percent behind the city in getting this accomplished and I am here if they need any help from the district."

Eister-Whitaker agreed.

"Getting our students involved or at least giving them the option to be part of a club like this is wonderful," she said. "I know the city will be able to get this going and I am very happy to hear they have reached out to us to be a partner."

The Danville Area School District began a firefighters club earlier this year and organizer Eric Frantz said he was thrilled to hear Sunbury wanted to partner with Shikellamy.

"We have 650 students at Danville High School and at the beginning of the school year we had a whopping six students that were actively volunteering with a firehouse," he said. "That's one percent of the student population, ranging from ages 14 to 18. This is not nearly enough activity to sustain the future of fire protection for our community."

Frantz said students are now learning the trade.

"At the fire club events we try to keep them exciting and engaging," he said. "We start each event by telling the kids we're not there to talk about smoke detectors or stop, drop, and roll. We're there to ask for their help cutting people out of cars, and putting the fires out. The list of benefits the volunteer fire service can provide to the students is virtually endless."

Frantz said the club gives students a mature support network.

"Firefighting is as much about supporting the community and mentoring new members, as it is preventing and extinguishing fires," he said. "The camaraderie and personal support received through a fire company cannot be overstated. There's a natural feeling of needing to excel and be at your best when you're relying on those around you in life-or-death situations. The people at a fire company genuinely care and help other members become better versions of themselves."

Shikellamy school Director Julie Brosius, who also attends Sunbury City Council meetings said she was thrilled to hear the city wanted to partner with the district.

"Forming a junior firefighters club for students at Shikellamy will stir pride and become a huge asset of the students' residential community when graduating to a certified volunteer," she said. "This valued experience and training will not only be realized in the city, but in the townships surrounding us."

City Administrator Derrick Backer said he grew up around fire departments.

"Without enough volunteers within the fire service, communities will need to start looking at paid, or part-time paid departments which comes with quite a bit of additional cost," he said. "It all starts with the junior firefighting programs and getting people involved from a young age. I applaud the efforts being made by many to try to ensure the volunteerism continues within Sunbury."

Barnhart said he will meet with district officials soon to proceed with the next steps.