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WILKES-BARRE — It’ll take about three weeks for the firefighters to get trained on the new pumper showcased Monday at the East Ross Street station and a bit quicker for Joe Salsavage to get up to speed.
Salsavage, 37, joined the Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department after working as a per diem emergency medical technician for nearly as long as the 16-year-old pumper being replaced.
Fire Chief Jay Delaney said he’s familiar with Salsavage’s work since 2003 and over those 14 years he’s shown compassion and concern daily for the people he serves.
“He comes here, I think, well versed in emergency services. Don’t forget about 97 percent of the work we do in the Wilkes-Barre Fire Department is emergency medical service, and he’s coming here today already trained as a certified paramedic,” Delaney said.
With his 7-year-old daughter, Addison, holding a Bible for his swearing in by Mayor Tony George, Salsavage’s wife, Stacey, and son, Cole, 3, watched on.
“I had the privilege of working with these guys for years,” Salsavage of Wilkes-Barre said afterward. In addition to his certification, he’s completed the required basic firefighting class. The position pays $48,871 a year plus benefits.
The mayor pointed out swearing in ceremonies are held at City Hall, but Monday was a special occasion to welcome two new additions to the department with the truck with the number 4 on it’s front passenger door parked behind him.
The mini-pumper will be able to maneuver through the narrow streets and alleys in the city, especially in the Heights and Rolling Mill Hill sections, the mayor said.
The 2017 KME Ford F-550 super duty truck has a turbo diesel, 6-wheel drive and pumping capacity of 1,000 gallons of water per minute. It was purchased at a cost of $240,080 with block grant funding obtained through the Office of Community Development. With the trade in of the old pumper, the department was able to buy a 5-year, bumper-to-bumper warranty for the apparatus, Delaney said.
The chief credited Capt. Robert Smith and Pvt. Tom Heffers with helping design and equip the new vehicle. The department formed a committee and took input from its 70 members on building the mini-pumper. The pump capacity of the new pumper is double that of the old one, and it can carry three firefighters.
Understand the last piece of equipment only was able to have two firefighters in it and be staffed with three,” Delaney said. That hampered efforts during the blizzard in March when firefighters responded to calls.
“There are a lot of many new things with regard to this should take us into the next 20 years,” Delaney said.
