VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS: Meet Lisa Kaplan

Volunteer firefighters are a special breed.

They are highly trained, just like their paid counterparts in neighboring towns. They go into burning buildings and do whatever they can to save lives and property for their neighbors.

Our Orange volunteer firefighters do so without any monetary compensation.

Volunteer firefighters have regular jobs, just like you and me and when they come home or when they are sleeping at night, they will rush out when the radio tone goes off and respond to homes, traffic accidents, brush fires, "spills." and more.

The firefighters are not required to go to every call, but they do have to respond to a certain number of calls in order to fulfill their requirements.

Each and every volunteer firefighter has a different story. They come from different backgrounds, hold down different jobs. Some have children, some do not. Some are big and burly, some are rail thin. A few are retired. They all do it because they want to.

This is the first in a series in which I will introduce you to a volunteer firefighter in Orange. It is your opportunity to get to meet them up close and personal. Find out about their lives, why they do what they do and even more that may surprise you.

This week, meet Lisa Kaplan, a two-year veteran of the department. This is Part One.