By Judy Kroeger
Tribune-Review
Copyright 2007 Tribune Review Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved
FAYETTE, Pa. — Carol Capella has firefighting in her blood. Both her father, Terry “Rocky” Newell, and her brother, Terry “Butch” Newell, are firefighters. They inspired her to join the Dawson Volunteer Fire Company in 1985.
Capella almost became a professional firefighter when a chief from Rockville, Md., told her fire companies were hiring women.
“I would have had to move in order to do that,” she said.
Capella chose instead to stay in Dawson, her hometown, and has been married to Bobby Capella for 22 years. They have two sons, Michael, 21, and Nicholas, 10.
Capella continued volunteering with Dawson and became the first female line officer in 1990. She was second lieutenant. That same year, her father served as chief and her brother was first lieutenant.
She also served as financial secretary for a number of years in the 1990s.
“My dad never held me back from anything,” Capella said.
“I encouraged her,” said Rocky Newell, first vice president of the company. “It was something she wanted to do, and that was fine.”
Capella was not the first woman member of the Dawson VFC. Georgie Long holds that distinction, but Capella was the first state-certified woman firefighter.
The company has nine active women and two female junior firefighters, of a total active membership of 35.
Capella served as an active firefighter for 15 years. She no longer responds to calls because she works as a supervisor in the industrial engineering department of UPS, in New Stanton, and cares for her family.
She misses the volunteer work.
“I was active for about 15 years. I stay involved with the fundraising, but I’m thinking of going back into training,” she said. “I’m thinking about doing it as soon as next year. That’s how bad I’m thinking about it. It’s in my blood.”
Capella encourages other women to consider firefighting.
“Women can make it happen without being scared,” she said.
Several factors can keep women from being firefighters, Capella said.
“Their families, their kids and their professional lives keep them back. When I started out and could have become a professional, I worried about where I was going to put my child and my dogs. I’m concerned about that as a volunteer, too.”
Capella said government-sponsored child care would open up many opportunities for women, not only to become volunteer firefighters, but to enter other volunteer and professional fields, as well.
“Women raise kids, in the vast majority of cases,” she said. “Firefighting and raising money for the company take much time.”
Small communities rely on volunteer firefighters, not only to quench fires but also to deliver water, assist with traffic control at accidents and perform other rescue tasks.
Capella believes the Dawson VFC, which has about 115 total members, succeeds “because we do care about ourselves and our neighbors.”
“I encourage everyone to do whatever you can do,” she said. “Help with funding, help with fighting fires. Especially in small communities like Dawson, a volunteer service is needed.”
Next month, the Dawson VFC will host Band Bash in the Hills, along with the Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department, the South Connellsville VFC and the Washington Township VFD.
The event will begin 11 a.m. Aug. 25 at the Linden Hall Golf Resort in Lower Tyrone Township. The fundraising event will run until about 10 p.m. and features 10 local bands, a car show, a petting zoo, dunk tanks and fireworks at dusk. The fire departments will provide security, shuttle buses and food.
“This will be a fun day,” Capella said. “Everyone is welcome.”