West Deptford residents Michael Claridades, Gerardo Colon-Rodriguez and Joie Alzado-Hudak recently graduated from Gloucester County Fire Academy with their Firefighter I certificate. This certification means they are now active firefighters and can fight fires inside buildings.
Claridades and Colon-Rodriguez heard about volunteer opportunities at the West Deptford Fire Department on Facebook.
“I’ve lived in West Deptford for about five years. When I saw an ad on Facebook, I decided that this was the best time in my life to pursue this opportunity,” said Claridades.
Once the new recruits signed up to volunteer, they dove right into training with the department and enrolled in the fire academy.
“The training tested both mental fortitude and physical fitness,” said Claridades. “We had a mix of classroom lectures and hands-on scenarios, which provided a strong foundation.”
No prior experience is required to join the fire department. It provides classes at the fire academy, training at the station and protective gear at no cost to volunteers.
“We learn a lot training but seeing everything come together in real-time at an emergency is an amazing experience,” said Colon-Rodriguez.
Claridades added, “The learning never stops and I’m eager to continue growing in this role.”
Both Claridades and Colon-Rodriguez agree the camaraderie at West Deptford Fire Department is one of the best parts of volunteering.
“We are a family. We joke around and have fun, but we also push each other to be our best,” said Claridades.
Colon-Rodriguez added, “I felt welcome from day one.”
The West Deptford Fire Department continues to encourage individuals who are interested in serving their community to volunteer. For more information or ways to volunteer, visit www.westdeptfordfirefighter.org.
