George Tuttle wants to save lives and follow in his father’s firefighter footsteps.

“Any time I can have a chance to help somebody, I’ll always help them,” he said. “There’s a lot more people that you can help with being a firefighter. It’s not anything to do with crime or anything with medical (like police and EMS).”

The Leechburg Area High School freshman has a good start toward his goals via a pilot program with the school district and the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company.

A handful of teens, including one from Kiski Area High School, are learning the basics of firefighting Tuesday afternoons at the fire station along Canal Street.

The course follows the Pennsylvania Fire Academy curriculum. There are four modules in firefighter essentials.

So far, the participants have learned how to put on their gear, use various tools and how to use a generator for emergency lighting.

The class is taught by retired Pittsburgh firefighter battalion chief Tim Kopicko.

“They’re young and they’re really green, but they’re catching on,” Kopicko said. “How you start doesn’t mean that’s how you’re going to finish. Kids surprise you. They start picking up a little confidence, a little comfort level and momentum.

“They can really excel.”

Free course, class credit

The Leechburg VFC and the district were able to partner with Butler County Community College and Armstrong County Department of Public Safety to begin the program at no cost to participating families.

The training also serves as a credit course as well as community service hours for the students.

Kopicko said they are in the middle of the first training module and hope to get through the second by the end of the school year.

“That’s our target goal, for sure,” Kopicko said. “We should be able to go through those two. Hopefully, that will stimulate their interest and desire. Because it’s a pilot program, we’re playing it by ear. If they’re determined and want to continue, I’m sure the school district and Butler Community College would approve it.”

Kopicko, 59, grew up in Pittsburgh’s Polish Hill neighborhood. He was a first responder for 30 years before calling it a career in February 2016.

He has been a Pennsylvania Fire Academy certified suppression instructor for 20 years and volunteers at both the Templeton and North Apollo fire departments.

Senior David Henry said he has no relatives in a fire department and had no desire to explore the service until he received an email from a guidance counselor.

“I decided to try it,” he said. “I had nothing really to do. It’s a little bit challenging, but it’s fun when we get to do stuff. It’s a lot more hands-on (than a classroom).”

Henry said he since has learned to love the activities and hopes to join the department after high school.

He also praised Kopicko’s training.

“He helps us when we need it, and he lightens the mood and stuff like that,” Henry said. “You can possibly get a career out of this and help set you up. I know you can get a scholarship.”

Fledgling struggles

The firefighter training program has been a work in progress for years with efforts renewed within the past few months.

Leechburg fire company President Brian Scott said the class initially was formulated and approved in March 2018 by the district in conjunction with Leechburg, Gilpin and West Leechburg fire companies.

“At that time, there was limited interest from the student body,” Scott said. “During the spring of 2021 a survey was initiated and found to have several students now interested in the taking the class.”

The school board recently voted on the program and approved students from neighboring districts to attend the class.

“I think that this helps promote the fire department to our youth,” Leechburg Area Superintendent Tiffany Nix said. “The fire departments in our surrounding communities offer so much support to all of us. My hope is that by getting our kids involved at a young age, the number of members will increase. It is a good way for our youth to be involved and give back to the community.”

What the students say

Kiski Area freshman Eli Dobson, 15, joined the program for the same reasons as George.

“I wanted to be like my dad (Eric Dobson),” Eli said. “He’s proud of me.”

The elder Dobson is a firefighter in Butler. His mother, Jessica Lazaron, said public service runs in the family.

Eli’s grandfather, James Dobson, served as a firefighter with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Jessica’s husband, Keith Lazaron, is a police officer in Manor Township.

“I think him doing this class teaches responsibility and giving back to the community, which is something that’s big in our family,” Jessica Lazaron said.

Kopicko said enrollment for the program is closed, and they hope to expand it next year.

Bolstering dwindling ranks

The number of volunteer firefighters in the state has been on the decline for years for several reasons, including greater time demands, an aging population and societal shifts.

There were about 300,000 volunteer firefighters statewide in the 1970s. Today, there are about 38,000, according to a report released in November 2018 by the state House of Representatives.

Leechburg Fire Capt. Jake Lants said having a training program at the station and partnership with the school district provides a major recruitment opportunity.

“They’re the next generation of our fire service,” Lants said. “Without them coming on you never know (what may happen). It’s awesome seeing them learning and picking up things from the first class they were here. They don’t know a whole lot about all the tools and everything, but they’re picking up very well and we need them. It’s a big asset because we can mold them into being better firemen.”

Lants has been with the department for 11 years. The volunteer company has between 15 and 25 active members.