For Sam Martino, the path to becoming a firefighter was a long-held dream that he acted on in November 2024 when he signed up to volunteer with Bridgeport Fire Company.
Through his job at Servpro, Sam frequently interacts with fire companies, sparking his interest in learning more. He spoke with volunteers at a Montgomery County firefighters fundraising event and asked them if his job would be a conflict of interest. When they told him it wasn’t, Sam signed up immediately.
“It was pretty easy to find my local fire company. I went onto the website, www.montcofirefighters.org and typed in my address,” said Sam. “The main reason I wanted to do it was the community involvement.”
Although balancing work with volunteer duties can be challenging at times, the fire company understands it’s a volunteer position and Sam can’t make every emergency call.
“The drill nights are super helpful because they support the training I’m getting at the Montgomery County Fire Academy,” said Sam. “Some nights, if they know I’m learning hose or knots, Bridgeport will frame the training around that.”
Since Sam is still completing training to receive his Firefighter I Certificate, he can only assist with exterior duties on calls, like connecting hoses and grabbing tools. All necessary training and gear are provided by the fire company at no cost to volunteers. To learn more or find your local fire company visit, www.montcofirefighters.org
