Lower Swatara Fire Department

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LIVE - IN MEMBERS

Trevor Eiswerth	Ryan Klass	Jordan Miller
	Thomas Spadaro

Distance from Local College's

Harrisburg Area Community College - 15 minutes
Penn State Harrisburg - 5 minutes

The purpose of the program is for live-in members to attain the education and experience necessary to be a successful citizen while augmenting needed manpower for the Lower Swatara Fire Department. The program is both demanding and time consuming, but it is our hope that it creates the discipline and respect that is expected in top quaility fire departments.

Live-In members are issued NFPA compliant turnout gear, helmet, a PBI hood, and a pair of gloves when they are accepted into the program. They will be issued a Department locker for the storage of personal effects with the understanding that the locker is Deparment property and may be accessed at any time by the Leadership. They are afforded a place to live with comfortable accommodations and access to a quality fire department experience.

Live-In Members must move in at least 5 days proir to the start of classes. This time period is spent training and familiarizing the students with each other, the Middletown area, and the fire department in general. They are encouraged to take their time in getting to know the department members and officers, as there are many resources at their disposal. These members can assist with general fire experiences, college, and business experience.

The Lower Swatara Fire Department is both similar to and different from your home department. We certainly run calls just as your home department does, but we also have a strong community service program. We have a very active fire prevention program with our area schools and run a fire safety house at numerous functions every year. Unlike other companies with live-in programs we have taken the approach to develop citizens who have college skills combined with a sense of community service. You will get out of this what you put into it- if you choose to get involved all the way, we can guarantee you a unique experience that is filled with college life, fire department excitement, and ultimately a maturing as you find your place in the community. Your commitment is important to us, as we will commit to assisting you in meeting with success.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Live-In Members:

Live-In Members must respond to all fire calls, service calls, training sessions, fund raisers and work details up to 90 minutes before reporting to school or work unless specifically excused by the leadership.

Live-In Members cannot take up permanent or legal residence at the station.

Student Live-In Members are required to attend all classes whenever registered, unless excused by the Leadership or thier designee for a particular time and date. To be considered a student live-in member, your course schedule will have to be approved by the Leadership. The goal of the Leadership is to insure student live-in members are truly leading an academic student lifestyle at a local college or training school.

All non-student live-ins shall be employed and working an average of 30 hours every 7 calender days at a paying job. A combination of working less than 30 hours and taking some degree of college courses may be acceptable if approved by the Leadership.

Live-In members must participate in all assigned house duties. The duties are often broken down into individual tasks, however all live-in members are responible to see that all of the tasks are completed on schedule.

Live-In members will be out of bed, and the bed made, by 0900 on weekdays, and 1000 on weekends.

It is prohibited to sleep on top of the beds after that time as well.

Each member is expected to adhere to a normal and reasonable level of personal hygiene.

Each bunk will come with a plastic mattress cover and one top sheet.

You are responsible for your own blankets, pillow cases, sleeping bags, etc. The department will not provide any of these items nor will it be responsible for their loss.

Members are not allowed to sleep directly on the plastic mattress cover.

Members are responsible for washing the top sheet provided weekly.

Members are also required to use anti-bacterial cleaner provided for the plastic cover each week.

Female staff members and visitors are stricly prohibited from entering the male bunk room area at anytime. The only exceptions would be if the Leadership specifically authorizes the activity. This rule applies equally for male members and vistors entering the female bunk room.

Bunk room doors are not to be blocked open at any time due to fire safety concerns.

Privacy is a serious consideration for Live-In members. No member is to take an action which could violate privacy of another member. All members using the bunk room area shall be suitably attired in the minimum of shorts and a shirt.

All members are reminded that our station has several cameras, including cameras in the hallways immediately outside of the bunk rooms and shower areas.

Any member found in violation of privacy or proper attire rules through monitoring performed by the station camera system will lose bunk room and/or shower room privileges and could face more serious disciplinary actions.

Members and Visitors are cautioned- Violation of these privacy rules could result in immediate termination of membership privileges and could also lead to LAW ENFORCEMENT involvment.

The bunkroom will be quiet from 2300 hours until 0900 hours the following morning.

All live-in members are responible to spend a minimum of 4 consecutive nights each week, from Sunday to Friday, as well as one full weekend (Friday and Saturday) each month.

All phone conversations on company owned lines are limited to 10 minutes. There shall be no incoming phone calls other than family emergencies between 2300 and 0800 hours.

All laundry must be done and put any while in the station.

Beds shall be kept neat and clear at all times, with all clothing, personal effects, and toiletries stored in designated lockers, bureaus, and under bed storage.

All student Live-In members are required to maintain a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average. The mid-term and final grades must be shown to the Leadership within one business day of issuance.

A copy of all course shedules must be posted at the live-in members bunk area by the start of classes, and shall remain posted until the end of the semester. A copy of the course schedules shall also be provided to the Leadership before courses begin.

If a school or work schedule is changed the Leadership must be notified within 48 hours.

A student live-in member withdrawing from school during a semester will lose bunkroom privileges immediately upon withdrawal unless the Leadership specifically allows an exception by formal vote.

Non-student live-in members shall lose bunkroom privileges immediately upon becoming unemployed (NO EXCEPTIONS).

The Lower Swatara Fire Department shall supply internet use for the live-in members. The internet is meant for the use in the execution of schoolwork and normal personal use. Misuse of the internet or ISP shall result in the loss of privileges up to and including live-in status or department membership. Misuse is defined as anything that a responsable adult would consider wrong. In short, don't misuse the internet and you will be fine.

While attending classes at HACC or any other school, the live-in is representing the Lower Swatara Fire Department. As such, any reports of misbehavior or misdeeds could result in immediate disciplinary action, including, but not necessarily limited to, loss of bunkroom privileges.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of the members listed below. We encourage you and your family to explore the Lower Swatara Fire Department experience.

Chief: Robert Furlong
[contact]
Assistant Chief: Chris DeHart
[contact]
President: Mike McKillip
[contact]
Bunkroom Committee Chairman: Eric Breon