Crime & Safety
Welter: 33 Years On Pine Brook's Volunteer Fire Department
His hobby is giving time to community.
- Name: Donald Welter, 51
- What Part of Town: Welter has lived in Lake Hiawatha since 1988. But, he spent the first 22 years of his life in the Pine Brook section of Montville Township. Despite living in Lake Hiawatha, Welter serves as a volunteer fireman for the Pine Brook Fire Department. “Most fire departments let you stay on if you move out of town, as long as you live within a certain radius,” said Welter. Being just over the bridge in Lake Hiawatha, Welter is less than 5 miles from Pine Brook’s Station 2 on Konner Avenue.
- Children: Welter’s daughter is 19 and has served on the Ladies Auxiliary for a little over a year. Welter’s wife has also been an auxiliary member “for about 7 or 8 years,” he said. The auxiliary helps raise money to make certain the firemen have what they need, including gear. They also provide firemen with food and water during a fire. Recently the auxiliary purchased a memorial bell for the squad to ring at services for deceased firemen.
- Serves on: Welter joined the Pine Brook Fire Department in 1978. He and a friend wanted something to do with their time to help out. Unfortunately his friend did not pass the physical, but Welter did. “I find it rewarding and I have been doing it ever since,” he said. Welter is the captain of the Pine Brook Squad, and is responsible for all reports, which have to be filed with the state, personnel training records, and servicing of the equipment. There are 6 trucks in the two Pine Brook stations. He also has to make certain every volunteer has turnout gear. To fight a fire, volunteers “wear 65 lbs of turnout gear,” explained Welter. Turn out gear consists of bunker pants, boots, turnout coat, gloves, hood, helmet, and pack. He also makes certain volunteers are trained and receive recertification each year. “I have all records, and we keep up with training,” he said. The Pine Brook Fire Department has been in existence since 1913. They are already preparing for the 100th Anniversary Celebration. There are about 27 active members on the Pine Brook Squad. They range in age from 16 to 64 years old. There are also some inactive members. “We think of ourselves as a team, not as individuals,” Welter said.
- Training: “An actual fire is not really like training. It’s usually a lot hotter and a lot more involved than a controlled fire, in training,” said Welter about preparing to be a fire fighter.
- “We’re all on call all the time:” explained Welter. It is a state law that employers must allow, without penalty, volunteer firemen to leave the job when a call about a fire comes in. “Most of the time all 27 volunteers come out. Yes. When they hear there’s an actual fire they come out of the woodwork. Which is, that’s what you want, you want extra help, and they all know that.”
- Most Rewarding: “Helping people that are distressed,” said Welter. “You try to help them out as much as you can.”
- Most Difficult: “Removing people from cars that have had accidents. And seeing other family members come down when there was an accident, and seeing that person deceased. It just it, you know, it’s hard, to see that.”
- Favorite Thing about Montville Township: “The people. The area,” said Welter. “I grew up in Montville and I work in Montville so I am very familiar with everything.”
- Something you would change about township: “I can’t really think of anything.”
- Career: Welter has worked for the Montville Water and Sewer Department since 1981. He is a field representative. His favorite part of the job is getting out and meeting the people and trying to help them out. He reads meters and helps people with water needs, shuts off valves and assists with repairs and maintenance of the public water system.
- Hobbies: “Watching the Yankees on TV or the Giants, during football season…and be ready in case of a call,” Welter said. For an average week Welter donates 6 to7 hours to the fire department. When there is a fire, he volunteers more time.
- Wants others to know about squad: “We’re there for them. If you need us, then call us, we’ll be there for them.”
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