Crime & Safety
The Hero Next Door: Matt Rothrock
Meet Matt Rothrock, a volunteer firefighter with Hecktown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 and this week's 'Hero Next Door.'
Matt Rothrock, 19, is a volunteer firefighter with . He has been volunteering with the company for one year.
Rothrock, a resident of , graduated from in 2011 and played for the basketball team. In July, he plans to head to the Universal Technical Institute in Exton, where he will study to become a mechanic.
Rothrock lives with his mother, Alison.
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What is it like being a firefighter?
“There are negatives and positives… You could be sleeping, then the next minute you're wide awake… You can go a couple days without [a call] and then you’ll get a couple of them.”
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What is your favorite thing about being a firefighter?
“Being around the firehouse with the guys is fun. [Hecktown] is a great company… I could be here forever. It’s awesome."
What made you decide to become a firefighter?
“I really don’t know. I wanted to do something because I wasn’t going to college right away.”
What kind of training have you had?
“I [completed] Firefighter I, and we’re wrapping up with Basic Vehicle Rescue. I’ll be taking Structural Collapse in the middle of June.”
How do your loved ones feel about you putting your life on the line?
“[My mom,] she gets nervous, but she knows no one here will let anything happen to me.”
What would you tell someone who is thinking about joining the department?
“It’s like a job… Everything has to do with trust.”