The Hero Next Door: Adam Belcastro

Adam Belcastro, 22, is a captain with the . He has been with the company for seven years -- ever since he joined as a junior firefighter at the age of 15.

Belcastro has an associate's degree in Emergency Services, which helped him attain his rank at a young age, as did more than a dozen specialized certifications. His father, Frank Belcastro, is also a firefighter with Upper Nazareth.

What do you enjoy most about being a firefighter?

“I particularly like rescue… when we can go in and get someone out of a bad situation.”

What made you decide to become a firefighter?

“It was a combination of things. My father had always wanted to join the volunteer fire department, but he was always on the road with his job. When I was 15, I called him and said, ‘I joined the fire department.’

"I was in the 7th grade when 9/11 happened. That had a big impact on me, too.”

What do your loved ones say about you putting your life in danger?

“My mom, my sister, my girlfriend... they always get nervous, but they have a great respect for it. It’s opened their eyes to the emergency responder’s world. They’ve been really proud.”

What would you say to someone who is thinking about joining the fire department?

“If you’re even considering it, you should do it. As soon as you get into a setting like this, you get a newfound perspective on your life. You can take this whatever way you want, but I like to think, how dare I bitch about my problems when someone out there is having the worst time, or they’re in a really bad situation? …It really gives perspective.”