KINGSTON TWP. — Shavertown Volunteer Fire Department recently received a Bronze Level Certification by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
The endorsement signifies half of the 30-member fire department has completed various Professional Qualification Standards, which are accredited by the Office of State Fire Commission, the National Pro-Board and International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, according to Shavertown Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gary Beisel.
The recognition affirms the fire department members’ dedication to providing the best possible fire protection to the Back Mountain residents, Beisel said.
“We have multiple firefighters certified in different programs,” Beisel said. “This is the 12th consecutive year we have been recognized.”
Volunteer firefighters can earn certification in a variety of programs, including Introduction to Firefighting, basic vehicle rescue and hazmat operations, he said.
“We are shooting to have 75 percent of our members certified,” Beisel said. “We are on our way.”
Also, Beisel accepted a $1,400 FM Global Fire Prevention grant from Factory Mutual Insurance Company.
The funds will be used to purchase a 65-inch smart television to use for training videos for members and the public, Beisel said.
Volunteer firefighters do a lot of fire prevention training with area Cub Scouts, day care centers and senior citizen groups, he said.
“Grants like this save us,” Beisel said, noting many of the volunteer firefighters invest a lot of time raising funds for the fire department.
Some of the Shavertown Volunteer Fire Department fundraisers organize an all-you-can-eat monthly breakfast as well as a golf tournament and more, he said.
Factory Mutual Insurance Company, a commercial property insurer based out of Norwood, Mass., awards the grant three times a year to eligible fire companies.
The grant is intended to provide funding to purchase fire prevention training materials such as computer software programs, laptops, community outreach initiatives, workshops, publications, arson prevention and fire investigation programs or equipment, said Nate Albrecht, a consultant engineer with FM Global.
