20-05-2025
Sharon Fire Department gets gold-seal approval from state
SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) – The Sharon Fire Department encourages its firefighters to keep on learning and be at the forefront of their field. That attitude is part of their identity and has been identified by the state of Pennsylvania.
Sharon's fire department is bringing something new with it to every call. A gold-bordered decal showing its recognition of excellence from the state.
'That they have a resource available to them that not a lot of other communities have. There's a full-time career, professional, educated and certified fire department,' said Sharon Deputy Fire Chief Nick Samson.
Sharon has been certified as a gold-level participating department by the State Fire Commissioner. It means 100% of the firefighters in Sharon have at least a Firefighter I certification. The department emphasizes training and celebrates that culture.
'That's the mechanism that's going to lead to having a department that is going to be able to be there when the community needs us,' Samson said.
Sharon has had 100% of its team with a Firefighter I certification for years, but decided to submit the paperwork and be recognized by the state.
Only 42 departments of 2,448 in Pennsylvania are gold-level recognized. The honor puts Sharon in the top 1.7% of departments statewide and should give residents confidence in their training, recognizing the professional development, particularly as it relates to new hazards.
'Things like lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles and solar panels. All of these things are problems that firefighters didn't have to necessarily deal with, maybe as recently as five or 10 years ago,' Samson said.
Sharon firefighters are trained and educated. The Firefighter I certificate comes after hundreds of hours of training. Many in the department have higher levels of training, too. The state recognizes its commitment to training, safety and service.
'When I go to bed at night, I sleep very soundly knowing that if there was an emergency in my house that I have a staff of certified and career, very professional and educated firefighters who are going to be coming to my house to rescue my family,' Samson said.
There are other levels of recognition from the state fire commissioner, but Sharon has achieved the highest.
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