In the first quarter of 2024 the fire department again partnered with CCAC to host & teach an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course that taught 18 students come from several agencies & three counties
After a department wide, all-hands training course, we put into service 22 brand new SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) Packs to provide the latest technology & safety features for our personnel to breathe while fighting a fire These were obtained through a tri-agency grant from FEMA
Our annual summer Fire Camp for teens was held for the sixth time, with 41 Cadets graduate with certifications, training, and new friendships to drive the next generation of firefighters
The inaugural Citizen’s Fire Academy took place in the Fall with nine adults taking part in the class that provided a insight into what it is like to be a volunteer Firefighter & Emergency Responder Skills ranged from fire ground operations to ladder climbs to vehicle rescue techniques to First Aid/CPR
We partnered with GRIT Fire Training LLC to bring in a customized hands-on training curriculum that reinforced firefighter skills and provided enhanced techniques while fighting fires
Five of our members earned the BLS Instructor Certification from the American Heart Association which increases our teaching staff for CPR and First Aid offerings to the community
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of EMS renewed our tri-annual licensure so we can continue operating as a certified EMS Agency at the Quick Response Service (QRS) level.
Holiday Park VFD responded to 1,069 calls in 2024; a 5% increase over the previous year.
Holiday Park VFD 2024 Year in Review
James Sims, Chief of the Department
As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on a year of progress, dedication, and commitment to our community. Our call volume increased by 5%, responding to 1,069 emergencies; demonstrating our unwavering service to those in need.
Our fundraising efforts were a great success, with events like our Super Bingos and Sportsman’s Bash helping to support our mission. Training attendance saw an uptick as well, ensuring our members stay prepared for any emergency.
A highlight of the year was our Annual Youth Summer Fire Camp, which welcomed a record-breaking 41 cadets; aged 14-17. Recognizing the importance of investing in the future, we expanded our Junior Firefighter Program from 3 members to 11, providing young volunteers with hands-on experience and leadership opportunities.
Looking ahead, we have been actively working with Plum Borough School District to introduce a firefighting elective in the Senior High School for the 2025-2026 school year, further reinforcing the need to educate and inspire the next generation of first responders.
With volunteer firefighter numbers declining nationwide, we continue to emphasize the importance of recruitment. We always need new members - if you’ve ever considered joining, now is the time! Whether as a firefighter or in a support role, there is a place for you in our department.
We encourage everyone to follow along with our fire department’s activities throughout the year via our Facebook, Instagram, and website. There you will clearly see how a small group of volunteers are making a positive impact in the community.
Thank you to our dedicated members, supporters, and community for making 2024 another successful year. Here’s to an even stronger 2025!
Command Staff
Executive Staff
Departmental Recognition
At beginning of each year, we pause to highlight the top performers of the previous year within the department....
Outside Recognition
Life-Saving Rescue: Cardiac Arrest
The following were recognized by Plum Council for saving the life of teenage athlete: Chief Jim Sim, Engineer Joe Schwan, FF/PHRN Gavin Bordogna, & FF/EMT Chuckie Usher along with the Plum Borough Police Department, Plum EMS, and Allegheny County 911 Center.
EMS Star of Life
The Pennsylvania EMS Providers Foundation presented the award to Medical Officer Alex Marcelewski for his multi-year efforts on rebuilding and expanding the QRS/EMS Operations of the Holiday Park VFD as well as developing an education program to grow capabilities.
Rustic Ridge Response
Plum Borough Council along with other government officials recognized all those who responded to the Rustic Ridge explosion. Representatives from the various HPVFD crews that day, joined Chief Sims for the ceremony.
Celebration
On February 3, 2024, the members of the Holiday Park VFD along with our brothers & sisters from the three other volunteer departments, gathered to celebrate Joe Schwan’s 50 years of service as volunteer firefighter to Plum Borough as a member of our fire department as well as Unity VFD for several years.
Local government leaders joined us in recognizing his dedication:
Mayor Harry Schlegel, Plum Borough
Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, Allegheny County Council
Rep. Brandon Markosek, PA House of Representatives
Senator Jim Brewster, PA Senate
Fire Department Impact
Past Positions
Chief, Holiday Park VFD
Assistant Chief, Holiday Park VFD
Captain, Holiday Park VFD
Lieutenant, Holiday Park VFD
Firefighter/First Responder, Holiday Park VFD
Firefighter/Chauffeur, Unity VFD
Current Positions
Senior Engineer, Holiday Park VFD
Life Member, Holiday Park VFD
Life Member, Unity VFD
PRIDE IN DEPARTMENT
It is a little known fact that the volunteer fire service runs on pride. Our members may not be paid but we earn more than money could ever buy us as members of our organization. A member of the public may drive by any given fire station in the United States and they would expect to see guys outside washing trucks, training or just talking to each other. These are all demonstrations of the pride that every emergency service member has in their equipment, their skills and their comradery. Stop by any given fire station and ask for a tour and you will likely be met with an ear to ear grin from a proud member excited to show off their hard work.
We are all proud to say that we are members of the Holiday Park VFD; because we know that we are doing everything in our power to make a difference in our community. In a conversation with Chief Jim Sims about the trials and tribulations of emergency services he simply replied “I love the volunteer fire service.” This sentiment is shared by every single member of this organization. We are here because we want to be, because we are proud and because we all love the volunteer fire service.
Firefighter
Junior Firefighter
EMR
EMT
AEMT
Paramedic
Fire Police Officer
Administrative Assistance
Business & Financial
Culinary & Social Planning
Facilities & Maintenance
Fundraising & Special Events
Information Technology
Vehicle Maintenance
In 2024 we responded to the following communities: (outside of Plum Borough) Lower Burell
New SCBA Packs
Holiday Park VFD was fortunate to be a part of three-department Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA that provided us with 22 new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) packs for our firefighters to use to breathe during fires and hazardous conditions
The “Scott Air Packs” from 3M were delivered in late Spring at which time the department undertook a in-depth training program where every single Interior firefighter became familiar with its components, operation, & improved technology.
Pack Features
Lighter weight
Better fit and comfort frame
Higher capacity cylinders
Improved Buddy Breathing Masks
Improved fast connections, alerting & visibility
Front line interior firefighters each have their own SCBA mask issued to them
Several extra SCBA masks on each apparatus for those who don’t have their own or forget it
Cost Savings
A new air SCBA Pack typically costs over $7,000 so we would like to thank FEMA for selecting us for this grant.
Firefighter 1
Josh Roden
Haz Mat Operations
Chase Nesbit
FDTN Truck Company Operations
Sam Gates, Jr
Nate McWilliams
Joe Susalla
Chuckie Usher
EVDT/EVOC
Jon Albert
Greg Carbon
Jesse Cook
Josh Hordubay
Training Achievements
Fire Instructor
Sam Gates, Jr
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
Chase Nesbit
BLS (AHA CPR) Instructor
Danielle Cline
Mike Cline
Jesse Cook
Tom Hordubay
Tactical Emergency Causality Care (TECC)
Alex Marcelewski
Chad Westover
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course
Holiday Park VFD in conjunction with CCAC
hosted the EMR course with three of our personnel serving as the instructor cadre and 18 students from three counties participating.
Cadet Class Stats:
- 27 Males | 14 Females = 41 Cadets total
- 32 Cadets belong to an agency - 2 Cadets from out of state
Staff Cadre Stats: - 60+ Volunteers from career & volunteer agencies - 13 original volunteers from the first camp in 2018 - 25 911-dispatched incidents responded to during camp
Day 1 (Welcome to Fire Camp)
Safety Briefing
Squad’s Team Building
Gear Donning Speed Drills
SCBA Familiarization
Hand Tools Review
Firefighter Drags
CPR (AHA Heartsaver)
Firefighter Down CPR
Stop the Bleed Certification
Day 2 (Vehicle Accidents & Interior Ops)
Vehicle Accident & Interior Fire Ops
Vehicle Stabilization & Rapid Extrication
Hand & Power Tools
Fire Dynamics Lab
First Aid Certification (AHA)
Smoke House Search
SCBA Confidence Obstacle Course
Day 3 (Hose & Rescue Ops)
Hand Line operations (team work)
Hitting the Hydrant
Ground Ladders
Large Hose Lines & Monitor Ops
Drop & Bail Outs (from windows)
Roof Top Ventilation
Emergency Wall Breaching
Hoarder House Conditions Search
Day 4 (Training Center Building)
Hose Line Operations (Lower Levels)
Hose Line Operations (Upper Levels)
Ventilation (Hydro & Air) & Rope Rescue
Tanker Ops
Fire Extinguishers & Simulated House
Burn Demo
Forcible Entry
Indoor Maze
Sprinklers
Thermal Imagining Camera (TIC)
Day 5 (Scenarios & LifeFlight)
Cadets took all that they have learned during the week and put it to the test with simulated incidents. These range from search & rescue, hose line attack up flights of stairs, getting through mazes, ladder operations and more!
After lunch, AHN-LifeFlight conducted a landing zone class & brought in one of their helicopters for cadets to tour.
our future is now
The Junior Firefighter Program is an opportunity for teens age 14 thru 17 to become part of a volunteer fire department and learn early on the skills necessary to become a successful Firefighter in a safe & educational environment. Pennsylvania law dictates what a junior firefighter can do based on their age (14-15 and 16-17) in conjunction with Working Papers laws and Youth Employment Hours (while they are technically volunteers, we must adhere to those laws).
JRFF’s will train alongside Senior Firefighters in drills & classes as well as respond on emergency calls to assist within their scope under PA law & HPVFD standard operating guidelines (SOGs).
We value home life, school, and safety as our top priorities and the chiefs periodically reach out to parents to gauge how things are going and help maintain a healthy balance for the young teen.
The Junior Firefighters are overseen by the Chief Officers in conjunction with three Senior Firefighters (FF) designated as “Program Mentors” for them. Several of them were junior firefighters years ago and bring first-hand knowledge of the program with the benefits it provides as well as opportunities.
Under Pennsylvania law, Junior Firefighters can complete three of the four required training modules to become an interior firefighter under 17 years old. When they turn 17, they may with parent’s & chief’s permission complete the final module and complete their “live burn” to become certified; however they must wait till their 18th birthday before that certification becomes active.
At 16 years of age, they may enroll in Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course and obtain certification upon passing examinations.
Junior Firefighters can through their training as teens help themselves obtain the Fire VEST Scholarship from CCAC. These are full scholarships for an associate degree or certificate program at CCAC, as well as training at the Allegheny County Fire Academy.
Program Mentors
Past Junior Firefighters who are now grown up and in leadership positions at the HPVFD
Training Opportunities
14
16 Years of Age+
17 Years of Age+
Providing a glimpse into the world of the volunteer fire service
Within eight weeks, nine everyday citizens experienced what volunteer firefighters do on a daily basis...
Ladder Ops Night (Climbing the 105 foot Aerial)
Fire Science Night (How Fire Works)
Fireground Ops Night (Hose Lines & Team Work)
Fire Suppression (Extinguishers & Hose Lines)
Our Citizens Fire Academy had three goals:
1) Provide the community with an insider’s view of the volunteer fire service and its operation.
2) Allow everyday citizens to experience what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter and/or emergency responder with hands-on training scenarios and experiences.
3) Help address the shortage of personnel for volunteer fire departments across the commonwealth by recruiting not only potential members but also supporters in the community.
Hitting the Hydrant (Establish Water Supply)
& Stabilizing)
Holiday Park VFD prides itself on how we get involved in the community beyond emergency calls. We have spent over 8,500 man hours this past year in the community...
Conducting Safety Inspections
Assisting Special Events (Local & County level)
Supporting Local Causes & Fundraisers
Summerfest Fireman Challenge for Kids
Toys for Tots Collection Drive
Annual Plum Soccer Kick-Off Classic
Cub Scout Pack & Boy Scout Troop Partnership
Career Planning Lectures
Providing Traffic Control for Community Events
Santa Claus Day in Holiday Park
Halloween Night Candy Run
Open House & Fire Station Tours
Playground Clean-Ups
Christmas at Plum Creek
Neighborhood Visits
You can request Holiday Park VFD to attend and/or assist at your event by sending a request to chief@holidayparkvfd.org. Our Community Outreach Officer will then contact you for further details & scheduling.
Our department also provides numerous opportunities for community education around fire prevention & safety, health, and special topics such as...
Fire Prevention Visits
CPR Classes
First Aid & Stop the Bleed Classes
EMR Certification Course
Safety Topics for Home & Business Youth Education Programs
Weekly Bingo
Bingo occurs every Thursday throughout the year with doors opening at 5pm and first game kicks off at 6:30pm each week
Fireman’s Fall Gun Bash
Super Bingo
Double the prize money for a late night overnight event where the social hall and truck bays are filled with Bingo players! This occurs twice a year
Hundreds came out for an afternoon of fun and fellowship with plenty of food and prizes given away in October
Lenton Fish Fry
Our annual Lenten Fish Fry starts off each year on Ash Wednesday and runs every Friday for lunch and dinner service through Good Friday
2024 Annual Budget
As a volunteer fire department, we are classified as a 501(c3) non-profit with both a state Bingo & Small Games of Chance license in order to fundraise. As shown in the pie chart to the left, 80% of our operating budget is via fundraising programs with the remaining funds provided by the borough and via federal & state grants. In addition to the fundraising events listed above, we also send out a yearly mailing to residents and businesses within the Holiday Park fire district requesting a donation as part of our solicitation drive.
From above, left to right:
236 ATV (Off-road emergency response Kubota with pump/tank or EMS/Rescue Ops)
236 Service (2009 Expedition Fire Police & Transport Vehicle)
236 Rescue (2000 Pierce Dash Medium Rescue Pumper)
236 Utility (2020 F-350 Special Ops & EMS Response Vehicle)
236 QRS (2017 Expedition EMS Response Vehicle)
236 Brush (With Trailer for Mobile Command Post or Transport)
The department's Senior Engineer and his Engineers are responsible for maintaining our fleet of apparatus. Monthly truck check nights ensure apparatus operate at their peak performance level as well as refresh all personnel on specialized equipment carried.
All drivers must be hold Emergency Vehicle Operators Course certification as well as pass the department’s internal driver/operator training program for each vehicle along with additional certifications such as Pump Ops, Truck Company Ops, & when needed, EMSVO.
