PORT JERVIS, NY -- Firefighters are charged with many responsibilities in their line of duty. Many of the things they do are well-known, obvious, and visible. Others? Not so.

In Port Jervis, NY and surrounding NY, NJ, and Pa communities, fire departments are completely staffed by volunteers -- as in other small communities. These volunteers, while not paid, are very dedicated men and women who regularly fit countless hours of training and responses into their busy family and working lives. Besides emergency responses, they also take part regularly in public service calls, community events, and company fundraising projects.

This service may seem to go unnoticed, but is never unappreciated in the tri-state community.

Some of the non-emergency calls and projects undertaken over past months, years -- even decades – in Port Jervis include: washing down public streets, assisting police and community groups with public gatherings and events, bike safety rodeos, fire safety and prevention talks, fire museum tours, smoke and odor investigations (often from a BBQ grill, fire pit, or venting sewer but never taken for granted), sweeping or washing down after an MVA, booths at festivals, parades, flying the department’s gigantic American flag on requested occasions, fundraising cooking events, recently cleaning an intersection of buckets of a painter’s spilled water-based paint, and this September's upcoming football bonfire and parade.

Our communities understand and appreciate all you do!