By Marilyn Forbes
Tribune-Review (Greensburg, PA)
Copyright 2007 Tribune Review Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved
EAST HUNTINGTON, Pa. — Emergencies have no sense of timing. Accidents and fires occur during late nights and in the wee hours of the morning, during holidays and family meals.
“I know that a lot of times the whistles go off right as the guys are sitting down to a meal,” said Nick Ritz, of the East Huntingdon Township Volunteer Fire Department. “They have to rush out right away, and they go hungry.”
So he came up with a way to alleviate the problem.
“I thought that something on the lines of a canteen would be a great idea,” Ritz said. “That way, we could respond to many of the calls and bring hot beverages or water for the firemen.”
Ritz, a charter member of the department, is in his 52nd year with the fire company. It has about 50 active volunteers who man seven vehicles, including two pumpers, two mini-pumpers, one tanker, the chief’s vehicle and a service truck.
That truck, a smaller unit used primarily as an extra volunteer transport or to carry extra equipment, will be given a bit of remodeling as Ritz transforms it into a mobile canteen.
“I thought that using it was a good idea, because it normally doesn’t always go out on calls,” Ritz said. “And I love to do woodworking, so I thought that if I added some cabinets and extra storage, we could stock it up and use it for calls, especially the ones were there are a lot of other departments involved.”
When Ritz approached East Huntingdon Township fire Chief Jeff Keefer about the prospect of building the canteen, his idea was greeted with enthusiasm.
“He supported me 100 percent,” said Ritz, who remains an active department member although he now forgoes fire calls. “Everyone seemed to think it would be a good idea.”
Ritz recently began to work on framing and constructing cabinets that will house the extra supplies.
“We’ll have room for hot water and coffee,” Ritz said. “The guys can get a cup of good, hot coffee or a (drink of) water if they need it, and I’d like to stock some energy bars, too.”
Keefer said he is pleased that Ritz has decided on the canteen as his way of staying involved.
“It will be greatly appreciated out on a fire scene,” Keefer said, “especially in the winter. It will be great to be able to get some hot coffee and give the guys a place to climb into to warm up, and it’s also something that the other departments can use.”
Neighboring departments already are grateful for the gesture being made by East Huntingdon.
“I think that it’s a fantastic idea,” Mt. Pleasant fire Chief Jerry Lucia said. “We always depend on the Salvation Army, but they come here from Greensburg, and there can be a bit of a time lapse, but Nick will hear the calls and he can be there firsthand. He’ll know the severity of the calls and understand the situation, and he can get there right away.”
Ritz said he is only too happy to be of help and remain involved with the department.
“After all these years, it’s time for me to leave the firefighting to the younger guys,” Ritz said. “But this canteen is still a way for me to be an active part (of the unit) and to still volunteer my time.”
Ritz will be accompanied by a few other fireman who will help to man the canteen, as well as a few members of the ladies auxiliary. The canteen should be ready to answer calls later this spring.