Jeff Czonstka joined the New Tripoli Fire Company six years ago as a means to help the community and to be part of something important.

He played sports and said there is a brotherhood there, also.

"But it is nothing like this," Czonstka said. "And, this is more dangerous. I love it."

Czonstka missed the brotherhood of sports after high school and now he enjoys the brotherhood of the fire company.

"You can absolutely trust everyone to be doing their job," he explained.

Czonstka, who has 500-plus hours of training, said the New Tripoli Fire Company many well-trained volunteer firefighters.

The winter months are when most of the training is done. A survival class is on his schedule for February.

"Most guys are Firefighter I certified with four or five Firefighter II certified," he explained. "They are well-trained and dependable in a bad situation."

The fire company has a brush truck and four other trucks in the bays.

Czonstka does tool maintenance, meaning he goes through all the trucks to make sure everything is working properly.

As a lieutenant, his job is to maintain air packs and masks, change the batteries and check the seals and straps.

"The air packs are a lot of responsibility," Czonstka said. "If someone is in a fire, they need the air.

"I also make sure the bottles [containing the air] are full."

Czonstka said it is tough on his wife, whom he describes as a saint, and two young children but they are supportive.

He thinks his kids will be interested more in firefighting when they are older.