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Crime & Safety

Meet Lindsey Kaufman, Eastern Salisbury Volunteer Firefighter

Lindsey Kaufman loves the challenging, team-oriented work of being a volunteer firefighter.

Name: Lindsey Kaufman

Age: 28

Lives: Salisbury Township

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Family: My fiance and his 2½-year-old son.

Job: Social worker.

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Fire company: Eastern Salisbury Fire Co.

Training so far: Firefighter 1 Class, the national certification class that qualifies you to become a firefighter, was twice a week for six months, 195 hours. You start out in the classroom, then you do some hands-on stuff: how to identify hazards, fire scenes, how to put out a fire, dealing with hazardous materials, CPR, structural burns, where you go in a controlled environment. I’ll be taking an EMS class September through January. I have my bachelors and masters degrees, but I’ll be taking even more school.

What's it like being a firefighter? Great. It’s rewarding, it’s good exercise and it’s different. There’s a lot of manual labor and a lot of training. We do a lot of vehicle rescues. A lot of people don’t realize we put in a lot of personal time we don’t get paid for. We are strictly non-paid. My chief, Clint Ballek has been doing this for over 30 years, and he has not been paid. We have a fund drive every year and we also get support from the township, but that pays for equipment and gear. I’m also the treasurer for the company and that’s not paid, either. I put in three to ten hours per week, not counting class time.

How do your loved ones feel about you putting your life in danger? My fiancé, Dave Tomcics, is assistant chief for Eastern Salisbury. My mom and dad kind of expected it of me, because I’ve always been outgoing. I have cousins who are firefighters, too.

Tell us a story you'll never forget about your firefighting experience. The first time I was in a fire, I could really feel the heat, but it was the first time I felt I could really do it. The heat made me feel I could overcome it.

What would you tell people interesting in joining your fire company? It’s a teamwork-oriented family. You have to be physically in shape, but if you are outgoing and want to test your fears, it’s the place to be.

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