Crime & Safety
18-Year-Old Is Volunteer Firefighter and EMT
Mike Peski: "We are always in need of volunteers. And always be a supporter of the volunteers."
- Name: Mike Peski is a volunteer. The 18-year-old serves on both the Montville Township Fire Department and the Montville Township First Aid Squad. “When I was 14 years-old, I attended a junior fire fighting academy in Pequannock, New Jersey,” said Peski. “They showed us all the aspects of police work, EMS work, fire departments, and I thought it’d just be a cool thing to do. I can’t regret anything I’ve done. I love it every day.”
- What Part of Town: Peski graduated in June from Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange. About 3 years ago, he moved from Pequannock to Montville, “Basically because it’s a closer distance to Seton Hall,” he said.
- Serves on: “I am a certified EMT in the state of New Jersey,” explained Peski. “And also a New Jersey certified firefighter.” Peski serves on a 12 hour shift weekly for the First Aid Squad throughout the year. In addition, he has also taken on a day shift for the summer. Last summer Peski completed his Fire Fighter I training course which, now that he is 18, allows him to enter burning buildings. “I did it last summer,” he said of the training. “In mid-July. In the storms and heat. I did it for one month. Eight hours a day.” The training consists of a fire fighting aspect, complete with live burns and simulated fire fighting situations, as well as a lecture component, where volunteers learn to assess situations and understand a variety of buildings. “It was brutal,” added Peski. “But, at the same time you wanted to do it. It was fun.”
- How long: The time required by each volunteer squad varies from week to week and season to season. Peski carries a pager for both the and the . When calls come in he responds where needed, day or night.
- Other Activities: For the past four years, Peski has also been very involved at Seton Hall. “I was on the technology committee. Ran all the service in the building, PC networking, made sure all the teacher s’ PC s were working,” explained Peski. He also served on campus ministry, raised funds for disaster relief, and built Habitat for Humanity housing in “desperate areas.”
- Most Rewarding: “Being a firefighter, knowing that any time of day, whether it’s a house on fire, someone’s car rolled over on 287, or someone’s CO detector, you know that you are out there helping them. Making them comfortable that everything’s going to be alright. And doing your job to the best of your ability,” noted Peski. He added that being an EMT is a busier job than the fire department because the First Aid Squad serves the entire community, whereas there are three fire departments in town. According to Peski, annual calls for the Montville Fire Department total around 300. While annual calls at the Montville First Aid Squad number as many as 1,200. “It’s a lot more work,” Peski said. “But, you meet very nice people. I guess the most rewarding is just seeing that person someplace else in town and having them say, ‘Hey, you saved my life.’”
- Most Difficult: With each call EMTs and firefighters learn something. As a young firefighter, Peski finds the most difficult thing is in the learning. “Knowing that you could have either done something different or done it better; it’s just that you didn’t know that you could have done it at that time,” said Peski. “You just have to know that you did your part the best you can and, if you think of it that way, then you can always keep going in your field and help others.”
- Favorite Thing about Montville Township: According to Peski, being a member of the fire department and first aid squad gives a person a different perspective on the community. “It’s interesting,” he said.
- Something you would change about Montville Township: “The road system is kind of crowded and difficult to get around,” said Peski. “But, other than that it’s a pretty decent little town.”
- Hobbies: Peski enjoys gardening and has a plot at Montville’s Community Garden. “Firefighting and EMT-ing takes a ton of my time,” he added. “I occasionally play golf or tennis, as well.”
- Wants Others to Know About Squads: “Just support them as much as you can, if you can,” Peski stated about the community’s role in assisting the town’s fire departments and first aid squad. “We’re always open to giving tours to visitors and answering questions if you would like to join. Definitely we are always in need of volunteers. And always be a supporter of the volunteers.”
- Philosophy: “Always go one hundred percent at it, and don’t give up. If you hit a bump, just go around it, and keep going.”
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