Our Services

Our services predominately help the fire policemen of York County but we are eager to expand our services in the coming years to help all first responders in York County.

Core Services

What We Do for York County, PA

All fire stations can join our association once their fire department has joined First Responders Association of York County. Upon joining, all fire policemen and first responders are automatically part of our association. Once joined, we can aid with the below services.

A yellow firetruck on the way to an emergency

Traffic Unit Inspections & Certification

Approved by the York County Chiefs Association, our association works with local fire policemen to get their traffic units inspected to meet safety standards, proper minimum equipment available, proper lighting and signage, insurance requirements, and document everything to coordinate resources throughout the county.

Our Apparatus

Training & Education

We regularly share contact information and ways to register for the various training opportunities throughout the county. We meet and train monthly. Sharpening our skills is a key goal of our organization to keep everyone safe including ourselves, other responders, potential patients, and the community as a whole.

Upcoming Events

Town Halls

We meet with municipalities, fire departments, fire chiefs, police chiefs, etc and attend town halls to discuss the roles, responsibilities, and equipment needs.

Special Fire Police of PA

What is a fire policeman?

Fire police are a vital, though often less visible, part of emergency response teams. They play a crucial role in ensuring safety and order at emergency scenes, particularly fires, auto accidents, and other incidents. Here's a breakdown of their role:

Traffic Control

Fire police are responsible for managing traffic flow around emergency scenes. This is essential for allowing emergency vehicles to access the area quickly and safely. Fire policemen often drive traffic units which can be a red light vehicle (like ambulances and fire trucks) or a red AND blue light vehicle (like police cars). These units are equipped with TCDs or traffic control devices to give advanced warning and help traffic merge around an emergency scene.

Our Services

Crowd Control

Fire Police are also responsible for crowd control at emergency scenes, preventing bystanders from interfering with operations or putting themselves in harm's way. These include active shooter scenes, minor accidents, and everything in between.

Scene Safety

Fire policemen will often be seen creating boundaries on major roadways. This can be done through traffic control devices or their traffic units which can serve as blocking units to first responders working downscene (such as the EMT at an auto accident who needs to focus on the patient and not worry about a drunk driver creating a secondary accident).

Perimeter Control

They help to establish and maintain perimeters around the incident, ensuring that only authorized personnel enter the area - often described as hot / warm / cold zones in active shooter or barricaded subject calls.

Support for Firefighters

Fire police can provide support to firefighters by assisting with tasks such as setting up equipment or providing lighting. They can help to keep the scene organized so that the firefighters can focus on the job at hand - such as extricating entrapped patients from overturned vehicles.

Legal Authority

In many jurisdictions, fire police have legal authority to direct traffic and control crowds at emergency scenes. This authority is granted through PA state and any other applicable local laws.

In essence, fire police are trained volunteers or members of fire departments who specialize in providing support services at emergency scenes. Their work is essential for ensuring the safety of both emergency responders and the public.