The group photo had just been taken when the siren sounded.

A fire call at 7 p.m. Jan. 2 called New Tripoli Fire Company volunteer firefighters away from the special ceremony in their honor for earning advanced rescue certification through the Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner’s Office and the Eastern PA EMS Council.

The firefighters and trucks soon returned and the ceremony continued with more photos and a presentation of a certificate by the Executive Director of the Eastern Pa EMS Council John Kloss to New Tripoli Fire Chief Peter Christ honoring the fire company’s advanced rescue certification.

Kloss congratulated the fire company saying “This was a daunting task for Chief Christ to take on over the last year, year-and-a-half.”

Christ explained some of the steps involved in earning the certification.

“The EMS does the inspection and turns in the paperwork to the Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner’s Office,” Christ said. “In order to earn the certification, firefighters need to complete training in the Incident Command System; ropes and rigging; vehicle and advance vehicle, and machinery training; and water rescue ... a whole slew of categories.”

Christ did not forget fellow firefighters from the Lynnport and Germansville fire companies in sharing the honors.

“Our fire team members have endured many hours of additional training as well as the department purchasing additional equipment over the last couple of years,” Christ said, “We were able to obtain this certification with the personnel from New Tripoli, but there is a combined team effort with Germansville and Lynnport for training and emergency response.

“Our rescue serves four township, Lynn, Lowhill, Weisenberg and Heidelberg. In 2010 these townships supported the purchase of a new rescue truck and continue to support the efforts to this day.

“This certification proves to our communities and townships the efforts that the fire departments take to provide the very best rescue response to them.”

Christ gave special recognition to Bruce Dalrymple for making sure all the equipment needed was checked off the list and to Jason Lindtner and Jason Fusselman for ensuring all the Basic Life Support medical equipment was on hand.

“We must have every piece of equipment on that checklist,” Christ said.