By Patrick Buchnowski
The Tribune-Democrat
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Like most volunteer firefighters, Scott J. Effinger works a day job.
His is a unusual position that sometimes requires him to wear a gown, a mask and booties.
The Richland Township resident is Cambria County’s deputy coroner. He began that job in April after being encouraged to submit an application.
“I was very fortunate to be offered the job and I jumped on it,” Effinger, 24, said. “It’s been very busy in the coroner’s office with (heroin) overdoses.
“It’s nothing minor when a family loses a loved one who is never going to come back,” he said. “At the end of the day, you’re there to comfort them.”
As deputy coroner, Effinger works with local and state police and fire responders when there is a fatality.
It is the responsibility of the coroner’s office to determine the cause and manner of death.
That means donning protective gear when witnessing an autopsy. Effinger has seen several autopsies performed at the ForensicDX pathology center in Windber.
Effinger began as a firefighter in his hometown of Cresson in 2006. He moved to Richland Township in 2012 and became a firefighter there.
County Coroner Jeffrey Lees said Effinger has a background well suited for a deputy coroner.
“It’s a unique job that a majority of individuals don’t want or can’t do because you’re dealing with death,” he said. “Making death notifications is one of the hardest aspects of the job.
“You’re knocking on someone’s door at all hours to give people the worst possible news,” Lees said. “He’s a mature young man and is doing a fantastic job.”
Effinger’s home life is as unusual as his job.
He wakes each morning in a small bedroom at the Solomon Run station of the Richland Fire Department as part of the live-in program to train and retrain firefighters.
“The live-ins are the face of the fire department,” he said. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to live in and work here to expand my skills.
“Some of the guys who have lived here have gone on to career fire departments,” he said.
Effinger said the responsibilities of a live-in firefighter include responding to “all emergencies calls – night or day.”
“Keep the firehouse clean,” he said, “keep tabs on all the truck maintenance, clean the trucks and attend all fundraisers.”
The live-in program began in Richland in 1992, fire Chief Bob Heffelfinger said.
“It’s made us who we are – at least from the quality of fire protection,” he said. “We’re operating at a level where we’re usually putting someone on the street in under two minutes, 24 hours a day. Scott’s a part of that.”
Like many, Effinger said his fire service is a family tradition.
His father, Jim, is manager of Cambria Alliance EMS and his brother, Dave, is a Cambria County 911 dispatcher. Effinger’s grandfather, Francis Adams, and his brothers also were firefighters.
“I grew up around the fire department,” he said. “It’s second nature to me. The brotherhood, the camaraderie. It’s my passion.”
Effinger learned early on that misfortune can strike anywhere, anytime.
As an 18-year-old firefighter in Cresson Borough, Effinger said he lost a friend in a car crash.
“It was very traumatic for me because I came up to the vehicle and looked in, and I knew right away who it was,” he said. “It was difficult for me because I was there to help him, but he succumbed to his injuries.”
Effinger is eager to see where his path will lead.
“I take it day by day,” he said. “I’m very excited to see what the future has for me.”