Meet Bob Martrich, Emmaus Fire Police Officer

Name: Bob Martrich

Age: 63

Hometown: Born in Allentown, moved to Emmaus in 1978

Tell us about your family:

"My wife Dawn and I have been married 40 years and have three sons. Jeremy lives in Hamburg, Michael lives in Philadelphia, and Andrew lives in North Salem, N.Y. They are all still single so we have no grandchildren. We have replaced the kids with 2 dogs (yellow labs), Abby and Maggie and a parrot named Barnes."

Fire company:

Title/Role/Position: Fire Police Officer and Chaplin for the Emmaus Firemen’s Relief Association

What training have you received?

"Fire Police Officers require training in traffic control, communications, legal issues, warning communications and security. Most officers receive around 100 hours of training every year."

How long have you been involved with the fire department?

"I joined the Emmaus Fire Department about four years ago after my retirement from Air Products. Being an active firefighter is extremely strenuous, and I knew from my hazardous materials work that I no longer wanted to take a position that physically demanding. So I decided that a fire police position still provided a very important service in protecting our operational people as well as the general public."

Do you work elsewhere?

"I retired from Air Products after 42 years. I helped design and start the Air Products Emergency Response System, and initially was the point man for responses later becoming program manager. I still do some consulting just to keep up with present technology.

"I also serve as an elder for my church, work in the local food bank, belong to Yokefellow Prison Ministry where I visit imprisoned juveniles and try to encourage them and help them through their difficulties as well as give Bible studies. I serve on the board for the Allentown Firemen’s Relief Association."

Tell us a story you'll never forget about your firefighting experience. 

"I think the most memorable response, besides almost being run over by a drunk driver and having a front row seat at some impressive fires, was an animal rescue. A family of baby ducks fell through a sewer grate and was trapped in the sewer lines. One firefighter had to herd the ducks though the pipes to another firefighter posted at the next entry point."

What would you tell people interested in joining your fire company?

"I would encourage everyone to consider joining our department. As a member of the department you get a real sense of community. We see the community at all hours and in all types of situations. It gives you an appreciation for how lucky we are to live in a community like Emmaus."

"Volunteerism seems to be dying out in our society and that is something to cause concern because volunteerism helped make this country great and also differentiates us from the rest of the world. Some say 'why do you volunteer and give so much of your time?' I can tell you from experience that what you receive in the way of feeling good about yourself and the feelings of accomplishment you get are more than enough to compensate."