From Eagles to Engineering: A Month of Excellence at Lafayette
May gave us plenty to celebrate at Lafayette Fire Company, and so much of it came back to what makes Station 63 special: our people.
We were proud to congratulate Senior Firefighter Eric McMillan, one of our live-in firefighters, on graduating from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. Eric has been a dependable part of our staffing since joining Lafayette in 2024, and he even left us with a special gift: a 3D-printed replica of Engine 63 for our museum. We will miss seeing him around the station every day, but we are excited for what comes next.
We also highlighted two members through our Training Tuesday series. Merv Arnold-Lyons joined Lafayette in early 2024 with no prior firefighting experience and has already completed 316 hours of training, including Fire Fighter One, Emergency Medical Responder, Hazmat Operations, and Vehicle Rescue Technician. Emma Carl, who began in our junior firefighter program, has completed 416 hours of training, including Fire Fighter One, EMT, Vehicle Rescue Technician, Truck Company One, and Hazmat Operations. Both are currently Yellow Front firefighters and are working toward Black Front status.
Our members also spent time training alongside Witmer Fire Protective Association, practicing drafting operations from natural water sources like Mill Creek. This kind of hands-on training helps prepare our crews for areas where hydrants may be limited.
And in one of the month’s more memorable moments, Lafayette personnel joined Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, Lampeter Fire Company, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Lancaster County Park Rangers, Lampeter Police, and a local property owner to help safely re-nest a juvenile bald eagle injured by a fishing hook. Not a typical call, but a pretty unforgettable one.
From graduations and training milestones to teamwork in the field, May was a reminder that Lafayette Fire Company is powered by volunteers who keep showing up.
Lafayette Fire Company is 100% volunteer-run, and we are always welcoming new members. Whether you want to fight fires, support events, help with administration, or just learn where you might fit, there is a place for you here.
