Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company Recognized for Fire Service Certification Program The Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company today announced that it has received certification by the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner and the State Fire Academy at the bronze level. This new recognition program for Pennsylvania’s fire departments and emergency service organizations that actively and voluntarily participate in and support the Commonwealth’s Fire Service Certification Program. “We are pleased to receive this certification,” said Chief Klitsch. The residents of Lake Harmony and Kidder Township can be sure that we are providing the very best level of training to our emergency providers. “We now have reached the 10% level of certification and we will continued to work for 100% certification in the months and years to come” said Klitsch. The new program, developed by the Fire Service Certification Advisory Committee of the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, was unveiled in November of 1999. “The purpose of this new program is to recognize those organizations that support, promote, and encourage their emergency response personnel to voluntarily certify within the Commonwealth’s Certification Program,” said David Smith State Fire Commissioner. Under the program emergency service organizations that have a least 10% of their “active” members certified to at least one of the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Service Professional Qualifications levels, are eligible to receive this recognition. Special recognition is given for 50% participation (Bronze),75% participation (Silver), and 100% (Gold). The Voluntary Fire Fighter Certification Program was created by Act 112 of 1989, and amended by Act 61 of 1995. Commonwealth emergency responders, 18 years of age or older have an opportunity to participate in and be recognized as a certified fire professional at various levels in accordance with nationally recognized and sanctioned professional qualification standards. According to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, over 5,300 Pennsylvania emergency responders are currently certified at one of the following levels; Firefighter I & II, Fire Officer I, Fire Investigator, and Fire Service Instructor I & II. These certifications and those earned through other certifying entities may be used to meet the criteria for the recognition.

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