Fire and EMS Services

Definitions:
First Due Area: The geographic area that a Fire or EMS organization has primary responsibility for.
Second Due Area: The geographic area that a Fire or EMS organization has backup responsibility for.

The majority of this area is covered by Eureka Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company. Fire and EMS have slightly different areas:

Fire First Due Area:
Stewartstown Borough
Cross Roads Borough
Hopewell Township
East Hopewell Township

EMS First Due Area:
All of the above plus parts of North Hopewell Township south of Winterstown

For fire and EMS , our second due areas of coverage include Fawn Grove Borough and Township, Shrewsbury Borough and Township, New Freedom Borough, Chanceford & Lower Chanceford Townships. We also provide mutual aid to northern MD (Fire only), Delta/Peach Bottom, Red Lion, Glen Rock, Jacobus and anywhere else York County Control sends us.

In order to provide service, the local governments in our First Due area have formed a pact by which they contract services from Eureka. They contribute to our expenses through the levying of taxes.

Paid vs. Volunteer
It is often asked if there is a difference between a volunteer and a career EMT or Fire Fighter. The answer is really no. We have to take the same training and meet the same standards. We can be dragged into court to defend our decisions no matter what our status. The biggest difference is that volunteers have to do everything on their own time and often with their own money.

At the present time, all fire fighters and fire line officers at Eureka are volunteers. It is becoming increasingly harder to staff an engine to respond during the week days. There was a day in this town that almost every business closed down when there was a fire as all the workers or owners were volunteers. Today that is not the case. Mutual aid is a very important part of coverage. We work very closely with our neighboring fire companies.

In order to handle medical emergencies, the local municpalites wanted 24x7 staffing. In order to provide this, we turned to supplementing our volunteers with paid providers. We staff one ambulance 24x7 with at least 2 qualified providers (paid or volunteer). We utilize full time, part time and a contact with Memorial Hospital to provide the EMT’s. For the most part, day times are covered by paid providers and nights are a mix. In addition, our volunteers staff our second ambulance and QRS (Quick Response Service) for when we have larger emergencies or multiple calls. If they cannot staff the second ambulance, then the call goes to our mutual aid companies.

Ambulance Club Memberships

We send out a letter each year for residents to contribute by joining our Ambulance Club. This money helps to cover our expenses which reduce taxes but it also benefits you. If you need treatment or transport by Eureka, we will bill your insurance company for the cost of the trip. If you are a member, we will waive any deductible they hold you responsible for. For more information, please see our mailer or call the station to request one.

We have reciprocity agreements with our mutual aid companies to include Fawn Grove (56), Brogue (39), New Freedom (58), Jacobus (18) and Red Lion (37).

Becoming a member of our fire company

If you want to become a fire fighter, first responder/driver, EMT, fire police or member of the ladies auxiliary, you must first join the general membership. You apply, are interviewed, background check conducted, and the membership decides. Yearly membership is $10. As a member you are expected to attend monthly meetings (you make the decisions that affect this company). We also hope you get involved in fund raising activites like Bingo, shrimp/crab feeds, open houses, carnival, etc.

Becoming a Fire Fighter
You will need to meet with our line or chief officers first. No experience required. We will train.

More to follow…

Becoming a member of the ambulance crew

There are several positions available on the ambulance. They are Third Person, Driver, Attendent and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). A legal crew consists of at least one EMT and one Emergency or First Responder. Baseline requirements for all four positions are as follows:

1. Member of the fire company.
2. HazMat AWareness.
3. CPR/First Aid certification (Red Cross or American Heart Association).
4. Complete in house Blood Borne Pathogen training and HIPAA compliance training.
5. Complete in station precepting program that gives you a chance to practice your skills with experienced providers present.

Third Person
1. Must be 16.
This position assists the EMT with patient care. They might help get supplies on scene, lift the patient, etc. Emergency Responder or First Responder certification highly recommended in order to provide advanced patient care. Minimum certification is CPR/First Aid.

Drivers
1. Must be 21.
2. Complete EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operator Course).
3. Complete station driver training program (driving, assisting, radios, protocols, etc).
4. Clean driving record.

Attendent
1. Must be 18.
2. Emergency Responder or First Responder certification.

EMT
1. Must be 18.
2. EMT certification

EMT, First Responder and Emergency Responder courses are offered throughout the county on a regular basis. The EMT training program is 126 hours long and includes a written and practical skills test at the end. The Emergency Responder and First Responder courses are about 52 hours long and include written and practical skills tests at the end. With these certifications, you have a baseline level of knowledge in order to perform your job according the protocols published by the PA Department of Health.

In order to maintain your certification, you will need to take continuing education courses. EMTs are required to have 24 credits per three years. First and Emergency Responders are required to have 12 credits per three years. These courses can cover vehicle rescue, hazmat operations, cardiac, breathing, diabetic or pediatric emergencies, documentation, etc.

Responsibilities for Ambulance Crew Members
Each month you will be required to committ to covering shifts. There is no minimum you have to cover. Any time you can give is appreciated. Typical shifts run 6 hours long and are midnight to 6am, 6am to noon, noon to 6pm and 6pm to midnight. If you committ and then later have to change, you are required to find a replacement.

If you live more than three minutes from the station, you will need to stay at the station for your shift. Keep in mind, you cannot speed and break the laws to get here in three minutes. We have bunks for overnight stays and a nice lounge for during the day or evening. When you return from a call, you are responsible for cleaning the ambulance, restocking supplies used and completing your documentation for the call. If your relief at the end of the shift is late, you must stay until relieved. Employers cannot legally hold this against you. Keep in mind that you could get a call 5 minutes before your shift is over - you cannot wait for your relief to arrive. You must take the call. We do not get to pick and choose our calls.

Turning your volunteer work into a part or full time job

Many of our volunteer providers have obtained work as paid EMTs or Fire Fighters in other areas. There are many opportunities out there. This is a perfect chance for a young person to make good money while going to college. How many part time jobs pay around $9 - $12 per hour?

Many fire companies near schools are now offering room for students in exchange for coverage. They provide Internet access, recreation, kitchen and semi-private rooms. This is a great opporunity to help defray the costs of college.