Colonial Park Fire Company Recognized for Second Fire Service Certification Award
The Colonial Park Fire Company announced that it has received certification by the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner and the State Fire Academy at the gold level.
This recognition program for Pennsylvania's fire companies and emergency service organizations that actively and voluntarily participate in and support the Commonwealth's Fire Service Certification program.
- We are pleased to receive this certification, said Chief Thomas I Swank. The residents of Colonial Park and Lower Paxton Township can be sure that we are providing the very best level of training to our professional emergency service providers.
- "We now have reached the 100% level of certification and we will continue to work for other certification in the months and years to come."
- The program, developed by the Fire Service Certification Advisory Committee of the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, was unveiled in November of 1999.
- The purpose of this program is to recognize those organizations that support, promote, and encourage their emergency response personnel to voluntarily certify within the Commonwealth's Certification Program, said Edward A. Mann State Fire Commissioner.
Under the program emergency service organizations that have at least ten percent of their Active members certified to at least one of the National Fire Protection Association's Fire Service Professional Qualifications levels, are eligible to receive this recognition. Special recognition is given for 50% participation (Bronze), 75% (Silver), and 100% (Gold).
The Voluntary Fire Fighter Certification Program was created by Act 112 of 1989, and amended by Act 61 of 1995. Commonwealth emergency responders, 18 years of age or older have an opportunity to participate in and be recognized as a certified fire professional at various levels in accordance with nationally recognized and sanctioned professional qualification standards.
According to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, over 5,300+ Pennsylvania emergency responders are currently certified at one of the following levels; Fire Fighter I & II, Fire Officer I, Fire Investigator, and Fire Service Instructor I & II. These certifications and those earned through other certifying entities may be used to meet the criteria for the recognition.
The Colonial Park Fire Company is the only emergency organization within Dauphin County to obtain 100%. Colonial Park joins a small group of fire companies within the state that obtained 100% level with the Fire Service Certification Advisory Committee of the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
