Nice Article on our Chief from the Poconorecord.com

It's in his blood.
Poconos volunteer firefighter of the week: Brian Snyder

March 20, 2007


Meet the folks who work at regular jobs all day, then get out of bed in the dead of night or dash away from a family meal to keep your house from burning down.

Fire department line officers chiefs, captains and sometimes others designated by the chief are the ones people go to for information. Reporters look for someone wearing a white helmet — or the person with the most radios sticking out of his or her pockets.

Brian Snyder
Age: 32

Family: Married to Lisa for 11 years; sons, Brian Jr., 8, and Brett, 5; parents Willard "Skip," a 45-year member of the company; he just got a plaque commemorating his long service to the community; and Bobbie, a 50-year member of the Ladies' Auxiliary

Job: Chestnuthill Township road department

Company: West End

Honors: Firefighter of the Year twice, Junior Firefighter of the Year

Years as chief: three

Years as firefighter: pretty much all his life; he lived two doors down from the firehouse. He joined as a junior firefighter in 1991 at age 16.

Why: It's "in his blood." He used to run to the firehouse and open the garage doors for the trucks when there was a call.

His story: Snyder is Firefighter I certified, meaning that he has taken the rigorous and physically punishing advanced training offered by the state. He was recently certified as an evaluator for the class and may become certified as an instructor.

His department responds to about 1,000 calls per year, making it one of the busiest in Monroe County. There are 70 active members. He is responsible for them any time the trucks roll.

He remembers a fire at which he and fellow firefighter Eric Huffman were "sounding" a floor in a building — checking to see if the floor could support men and equipment — when Huffman disappeared. It turned out that Huffman had fallen into a sunken living room, but he was not hurt.

"That scared me half to death," Snyder said.

He and Huffman were also caught at the end of a flashover, in which fire blows out over the heads of firefighters. They weren't hurt.

He enjoys being chief and likes working with the department's junior members. He said that he gets respect from them because they're working up through the ranks the same way he did.

His older son is interested in joining the fire company but his younger son isn't sure.

Quote: "I like knowing that I can help people when they need it most; when their life or property is in jeopardy," he said. "I'm well-trained and I know how to help. That's it for me."

How to help: For information on how to volunteer with the West End Fire Company, stop by the firehouse on Route 715 in Brodheadsville any Tuesday night.

-- Catherine Rodriguez