In June 1987, I listened to the roaring sirens of fire engines off in the distance responding to a fire at a local farm. I waited, knowing the "rigs" would soon pass me by because I could hear their sirens growing louder and louder. Finally I could see one, then two, then three of the big red apparatus with flashing lights pass my house. How many passed by my house, I can't remember, but I know I began to wonder, as I often did, about the nature of what was going on. Was it a fire, an accident, or something else?

Since I could drive, I grabbed the keys to my car to venture off as a bystander, just to get a glimpse of the volunteers in action. Sure enough, as the car peaked the ridge, a huge plume of smoke lay evident in my sight.

That was the day, that was the call, that was the emergency, which prompted me to join the local volunteer fire department. No longer did I want to be a spectator, I wanted to get in the game.

Montour and surrounding counties have a rich and honorable tradition of volunteer firefighters. It is just a small composite number of the greater 820,000 volunteer contingent nationwide, which dedicate personal time, money and other intangible sacrifices to provide selfless community service.

In terms of taxpayer dollar savings, literature offers many estimates, but to provide some relevancy, last quote read for Pennsylvania was about $4.5 billion, maybe more or less depending upon how the numbers were crunched.

At a 2009 population estimate of 12.5 million, that means the annual savings per Pennsylvania resident is $360.

Most important, the literature continually notes that the number of dedicated volunteer firefighters becomes fewer and fewer each year. So let me offer some thoughts to anyone out there who is looking for something to do.

I never came from a legacy of firefighters. I had learned from my father that my "Pop" helped develop a rescue unit in his hometown of Goldsboro, N.C., but having lived all my life in Pennsylvania, I never got a chance to actually see what he did. There really wasn't much to lure me in, other than a personal dedication to community service and the firefighting mystique from watching "Emergency 51."

Each of us have our own motives and self actualization of needs. I had enjoyed Scouting, played high school sports, enjoyed the local board meetings, been part of summer camps, youth mission trips, and developed a love of fishing and hunting.

In the heart of it all was the place I could call my second home, and that place was Station 60 or Mahoning Township Fire Department. At this place, I have found a brotherhood and sisterhood, truly bonded by real dedication to each other, the greater good, and a profound set of values of honor and integrity.

Sure, it's a ton of fun, but it's also a ton of work. Its not like the "olden days" where a volunteer just stepped on the engine right after being voted in as a member. Depending upon the station if it's one that disciplined and serious about exceptional performance a new member may take a year or so until he or she will actually be on the "pipe" (hose) in a burning building or operating a tool to free a patient in a car accident. Dedication is a key character trait for the simple fact that its not just something that can be done immediately. There is a lot of training involved. However, the rewards of this dedication are immense and endless.

There is a saying in the fire service: "If I knew how to be successful at recruiting and retention, I'd write a book and become a millionaire." I don't have all the answers to this dilemma other than this:

If there are any Montour County or other local residents, male or female, looking for something to really bring yourselves to a new level of higher personal sacrifice, community service, personal gratification and a sense of belonging, then you might want to give firefighting a chance.

There are many fire companies to choose from: Southside is in Riverside; Danville has four: Continental by Perkins, Friendship by Mill Street close to the river, Goodwill on Center Street, and Washies just down from Dunkin Donuts; Valley is by the old Cloverleaf complex off of Interstate 80; Liberty is in Mooresburg; Washingtonville is by the PPL plant, and East End or Mahoning Township is on Bloom Road, across from Wasserott's.

Each one has its own unique heritage and family feel. Many may not be the home you sought, but I'm sure there is one that you will find to be what you make of it.

However, one thing is certain: When an emergency arises in Montour or surrounding areas, one or several of those fire stations will respond with volunteers ready to help, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I leave you with one final thought. Early in my volunteer career, while still living at home during Thanksgiving dinner, my pager went off with a dispatch from the 9-1-1 communications center. My mom, having cooked all day, looked at me and said, "Isn't there someone else who can go?"

I simply responded, "What if no one came?"

Thanks for taking a moment to read this invitation.

W. Todd Gibson is a financial manager for the surgical suites at Geisinger Medical Center and chief of the Mahoning Township Fire Company.