Volunteer Spotlight: Timothy Hernandez

Name: Timothy Hernandez
Title: 2nd Assistant Chief
Department Name: Addison VFD
Location: Addison, ME

Why are you an NVFC member?
There are myriad excellent and wonderful agencies that are geared toward full-time union firefighters that help keep them safe; the volunteer has only one organization to help cope with the perils we face as members of the community ready to answer the call when a tone drops. Only the NVFC is geared towards training, advocating for, and recognizing the task of the volunteer fire departments, and in turn I am a NVFC member to support them in supporting me and my colleagues.

What is your occupation?
Airline Pilot

Why are you a volunteer firefighter, EMT, or rescue provider?
There are many statistics about volunteerism in the U.S., and also many far more prescient statistics about fire department volunteerism. I joined the department with the intent of doing some menial tasks to free up the real firefighters to do their work. Only, when I went to the first few meetings the statistics were no longer abstract. I was moved to become far more involved than I intended. I volunteer as a firefighter to help make my department the best department it can be.

What year did you join the fire or emergency services?
2015

What are your memorable moments as a firefighter or EMS provider?
Every call, every training, and every meeting is a time for new memories. One of my fondest memories during my incipient career was the feeling of jubilation when my company finished a very challenging confidence course at the state fire academy. It was the capstone event that in some way put everything we learned to the test, and only through working together as a company were we able to master the course.

What contributions have you (and your department) made in your community?
Our department very much engages the community. Our core contribution to the community is answering the call when someone calls 9-1-1. We engage the community with cookouts and New England style ‘suppahs’ that serve as both fundraisers and an opportunity to showcase to the community some of the ways the fire department is here to serve them.

Interested in serving your community? Find volunteer fire service opportunities at www.MakeMeAFirefighter.org.