ON-AIR SEGMENT: New Bremen Fire Chief Leslie Hoppel talks what it is to be a volunteer firefighter - "It's more than just fighting fires"

LEWIS COUNTY- Being a volunteer firefighter is far more than just responding to structure fires - it's "part of something bigger than yourself," says New Bremen Volunteer Fire Chief, Leslie Hoppel.

Fire departments across the state of New York have been running low on membership and unfortunately, Lewis County is not excluded from that.

In an effort to help expose the need for volunteer firefighters, New Bremen Fire Department has put together a special demonstration day, which is aimed for Sunday, May 18 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at the fire hall. 

According to Chief Hoppel, this will be open to anyone and everyone from anywhere. Families are especially encouraged to attend. 

As of this publication, the fire department is working to try and arrange a helicopter landing demonstration. In addition, folks who attend will have the opportunity to tour all of the various duties and tasks firefighters are given when called to an accident, a fire, a flooded basement, trees and/or down and etc. 

Chief Hoppel says the goal is to hopefully recruit a few new members, while also educating the public the basics of emergency response and how scenes of an emergency response are organized.

Be sure to listen to our latest on-air segment with Chief Hoppel for more of his remarks:

New Bremen Fire Department image.