Public Safety Spotlight: Pa Special Fire Police

Every few weeks, I will be doing a "Public Safety Spotlight", featuring an informative article (and perhaps a candid interview or two) about our local Public Safety agencies and officials in Southeastern PA. Today's feature; Special Fire Police officers.

We all have seen them; the guy or gal standing at an accident scene, wearing some sort of reflective attire and usually waiving a flashlight or wand around, most of the time directing us down a roadway that prevents us from going where it is that we want or need to go. Many times, they are on the receiving end of some, lets say, "colorful language" and/or gestures while on the roadways (at least that adds some entertainment value to the job).

Not only will you find them at an accident scene, but you will also find them at a fire scene, whether it be a routine fire alarm call or a fully engulfed, working building fire. Here, they are securing fire equipment and assuring the safety of the firefighters as well as the public at large.

So who are they? Where did they come from? What authority do they have? How do you become one?

They are "Special Fire Police", established by State Statute. Nearly every Fire Company in Pennsylvania has Fire Police. Many of them share a common "command structure" as well, meaning there is a Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, and line officers, which helps to designate who is in charge at the scene of an incident.

Many years ago, it was recognized that the firefighters of the Commonwealth needed assistance in controlling crowds at fire scenes so that they could perform their duties, and many times, Police Officers were unavailable or few and far between. Additionally, Police agencies many times also needed (and still do) additional manpower to direct traffic at accident scenes and road closures. To facilitate this, Special Fire Police were established by the Commonwealth. You can find more about their legal description, authority, and other details under Pennsylvania Title 35, Health and Welfare, Chapter 74, Volunteer Firefighters, Subchapter D.

Fire Police are actually sworn officers, able to exercise certain police powers to regulate traffic, perform crowd control, and prevent interference with the work of fireman. This also includes traffic and crowd control at special events, such as parades and any other event conducted by an organization authorized to do so by a governing authority. As a matter of fact, if you disobey the directions or commands of a Fire Police officer, whether on the street or at the scene of a fire incident or special event, you can be arrested and fined.

All Special Fire Police are volunteers, totally uncompensated, who come out at all hours of the day and night in order to assist their local fire and police agencies. Most fire companies in the area are actively seeking volunteers, and becoming a Special Fire Police officer is as simple as contacting the organization and applying. Of course, since you will be a "sworn officer", you must pass a criminal and character background check before you will be accepted.

One important thing to remember; Special Fire Police are there to help the public, not hinder them. It is important to pay attention to their commands and directions, as they are in control of the safety of not only their emergency personnel on scene but also the public they come into contact with.