As we near the end of Fire Prevention Month – held every October to help raise fire safety awareness and build safer communities – we recognize a FirstEnergy employee who is living our core values of Safety and Stewardship by using his Voluntary Time Off (VTO) to teach kids about fire safety.

J.T. Anthony, Safety representative, has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years. He started as a junior firefighter when he was 16 years old and is currently a member of the Rostraver (Pa.) Central Fire Department. He also is an emergency medical technician, instructor and evaluator for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. J.T. has learned a lot during his three decades of service, and he wants to pass that knowledge onto the next generation.

“Making sure kids know what to do in the event of a fire is a personal passion of mine,” said J.T., who works in the Safety & Human Performance Safety Training group. “I’ve been presenting fire safety information to school students for years, but FirstEnergy is the first company I’ve worked for that has allowed me to use VTO to perform this important mission.”

J.T. recently made his annual fire safety presentation at Rostraver Elementary School – part of the Belle Vernon Area School District – for students in grades K-5. He arrived at the school in one of the station’s fire trucks so the kids could check out the vehicle and see all of the equipment that firefighters use when they are battling fires. He makes sure the kids know what to do when a smoke alarm goes off and how to call 911 to report a fire. He also encourages them to talk to their parents about creating a fire escape plan and discusses other fire safety topics.

“Our fire department works with two other township fire departments to hold these types of community outreach activities every day during Fire Prevention Week*,” continued J.T. “We visit schools, day care centers and any other location where we can spread the word about fire safety and prevention to young people.”

J.T. is also taking advantage of FirstEnergy’s tuition reimbursement program to further his fire education virtually. “I’m currently working toward an associate degree in fire science – with a minor in public fire education – at Bucks County Community College in Philadelphia,” he added. “I’m a firm believer that you should never stop learning, and getting this degree will give me more knowledge to share with my coworkers and in the community.”

* In 1922, the NFPA named the second week of October Fire Prevention Week to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Although we still celebrate Fire Prevention Week, the event has grown to include the entire month of October.