NVFC Member Spotlight: Jerry Brant

Name: Jerry Brant
Title: Assistant Chief
Department: Patton Fire Company No.1
Location: Patton, PA

Why are you an NVFC member?
I like the National Volunteer Fire Council because it is the only organization that provides essential support and resources to volunteer firefighters across the country. The organization advocates for our interests, offers valuable training opportunities, and helps strengthen local emergency response efforts, making communities we respond in safer for everyone.

What is your occupation?
Consultant/grant writer

Why are you a fire service volunteer?
I joined the volunteer fire service because I wanted to make a meaningful difference in my community. The idea of helping others during emergencies and being there for people in their time of need inspired me to step up and serve. Additionally, I was drawn to the brotherhood, friendship, and support of my fellow firefighters.

What year did you join the fire or emergency services?
1969

What are your memorable moments as a firefighter or EMS provider?
One day, the department I was with at the time got called for a cow that was stuck in a manure pit. When we arrived, we found the farmer with a rope tied around the cow’s neck. It turns out the cow was also pregnant at the time. We were able to make a sling and attach it to the front bucket of a backhoe and lift the cow out to safety. Several weeks later, the farmer called me and told me that the cow had given birth to two calves. This call made the news to the point I even got a call from Rolling Stone Magazine about it. This call highlights the fact that the volunteer fire service is here to help their neighbors with any type of emergency. Some of us still talk about that call 20 years later.

What contributions have you (and your department) made in your community?
The fire department and fire station are the cornerstone of every small community across America. Yes, we handle fires and emergencies of all types, but we are more than that. We are the place where you sign up for Little League and AYSO Soccer. It’s where you vote on election day and where the community comes together to raise money for a cancer victim or the Humane Society.

What practices help you stay physically and mentally strong for your crew?
I try to walk 3-5 miles daily. We are blessed to have a number of trails in our area, and I try to get out to clear my mind and to keep myself physically active because I have never had a bad day out in the woods with Mother Nature.

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