On the evening October 15th and Saturday October 16th, a goal eighteen months in preparation became reality.  The Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Company made a monumental step for not only Clifford Fire Company, but the majority of fire companies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The step taken was to successfully offer fire fighter 1 certification in the field. Typically a company must travel long distances with their personnel to a fixed training facility, enduring significant expenditures for testing, lodging and travel. 
 

Through an unprecedented commitment from our members, Greenfield Fire Company Chief Fred Bales, and many of Greenfield’s members, we were able to bring a pilot certification program to Clifford.  Chief Bales served as the test site coordinator through the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and assisted in organizing the program. Our members spent countless hours training and preparing for the certification opportunity.  In all, members from Clifford, Greenfield, Hallstead, Edwardsville, and Whites Crossing fire companies participated.

Currently, Fire Fighter 1 is a voluntary certification that tests fire fighters on written and practical skills.  This certification proves a person has demonstrated competency in the knowledge and skills required in a specific field and is a prerequisite to many specialized and advanced courses.  To qualify for this program, the fire fighter had to posses many prerequisites of training.  He or she required training in essentials of fire fighting(88hrs), live structural burn session (16hrs), hazardous materials training (4hrs min), medical training certification (most had 68hrs min) and CPR/AED training (8hrs). 
 

The host company was required to offer facilities for a written test, offices for the evaluation staff, and be able to provide the resources and facilities for twenty six possible practical skill stations.  With some upgrades to the picnic grounds, Clifford Fire was able to rise to the challenge.  Expending minimal funds, the fire company made minor upgrades to portions of the picnic grounds to meet the state requirements for testing.  A search maze was constructed, replacement stairs and a working fire hydrant installed to name a few.  Again, this was all done by the dedicated members raising the bar for training in the region.  Upon review of representatives of the State Fire Academy, Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Company was awarded the pilot certification program.

During the two day’s, Clifford Fire was honored to host the event along with the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann, and other respected members of  the State and County certification committee present.  The goal is to be able to offer certification programs in rural areas like Susquehanna County in the future. 

If this pilot is deemed successful, Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Company will have set the stage for “on-the-road” firefighter 1 certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania!  A review of the pilot must be completed but initial comments are positive.   On behalf of the Officers of the Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Company, we wish to extend our thanks and gratitude to Chief Bales and all who made our goal a reality.  The dedication and team work displayed by the members of both Clifford and Greenfield once again brought the level of service provided to our community to a new level.  Greenfield Fire Company provided coverage for our department while testing was underway. With a positive outcome received by the members who tested, Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Company will be the first fire company in Susquehanna County to be an official participant in the Professional State Certification program. A special thanks Uniondale, Fleetville, Mitchell Hose and Harford for their support during the weekend.