How long have you been a member for?

I have been a member since December 2013.

What made you join the Vista Volunteer Fire Department?

I have heard the siren go off since I moved into town when I was three years old in 1994. I passed the fire department almost every day of elementary school at Meadow Pond, and driving to the Katonah train station for high school since I went to Iona Prep in New Rochelle, NY. Since I moved back home after college and now work in Greenwich, CT, I find I have the time to finally give back to the community. I can think of no better way to spend free time than training for emergencies, or answering a 911 call even at 2 AM during the week.

What does serving the Vista Fire District community mean to you?

I was in Boy Scouts in Troop 1 Lewisboro, NY during middle and high school. We were always taught to give back whether that was helping a neighbor, or doing a service project at a Church. I had always dreamed of being a firefighter when I was little, and I now have the opportunity to do so. How can we make our town better? Just spend a few hours a week doing something to help someone else.

What has been your greatest achievement with the Vista Volunteer Fire Department?

I would say it has been putting time management to work. I was able to make 93 out of our 253 calls in 2014 even though I work forty minutes away and traveled to Texas, Florida, D.C., Boston, and NYC numerous times throughout the year. Work comes first, so I am still able to work Monday through Friday and run events for work on Saturdays and Sundays. Unfortunately I had to drop out of my EMT class due to my work schedule, but I was able to take and complete Firefighter I and Truck Company Operations classes at the Department of Emergency Services in Valhalla, NY.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about joining the Vista Volunteer Fire Department?

Give it a shot. If you're looking for something to do during your free time, or are considering a career in emergency services, this is the place to start. All training is paid for whether you're an EMT or a Firefighter. We are lucky to train in Valhalla, NY for firefighting because of the wealth of knowledge that the instructors--some having been in the FDNY--want to pass on to us. Similarly, EMT classes are offered in Danbury, Greenwich, New Canaan, Stamford (CT), and elsewhere by some of the most experienced technicians in the area. Come by one Monday night and observe a drill whether it's a tanker shuttle with South Salem (NY), Pound Ridge (NY), and Ridgefield (CT), or a CPR and AED refresher in our meeting room.