Dennis Gene Fichelberger
Mercersburg,United States
Summary
Experienced Firefighter/EMT specializing in emergency response and fire suppression. Led teams in high-pressure situations, ensuring safety and compliance with fire regulations. Demonstrated expertise in equipment maintenance and team collaboration, enhancing community relations through impactful public education initiatives.
Overview
1
1
Certification
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Firefighter/EMT
Raven Rock, Mountain Complex Fire Dept.
Frederick, United States
03.2004 - Current
- Served as a firefighter and driver/operator for a large underground communications facility and eight satellite sites, managing substantial quantities of combustible equipment and supplies.
- Operates firefighter equipment including 1000 gpm pumpers, tankers, rescue vehicles and crash fire vehicles while exercising a thorough knowledge of all equipment capabilities and installations' physical characteristics.
- Responds to emergency medical services, hazardous materials and other circumstances.
- Collaborates as driver/operator, hose man, ladder man, hydrant man, rescue man, nozzle man and salvage man.
- Assisted supervisor and lead firefighter in administering and operating shift, ensuring efficient team performance.
- Conducts visual checks of fire alarms reporting and protection systems to ensure integrity and operations and participates in testing of these systems.
- Assigned work details, directed emergency and routine operations, researched fire codes and regulations, and attended meetings.
- In the absence of a lead firefighter in approximately twenty-five percent of the shifts, performs the duties associated with that position.
- Performs fire prevention inspection in areas where fire hazards are expected to be encountered.
- Inspects administration and office areas, warehouses, storage assemblies as well as other occupancies.
- Conducted thorough inspections identifying life-threatening and hazardous locations to enhance safety protocols.
- Prepared reports on unsafe conditions to facilitate timely corrective actions.
- Follow up inspections are conducted to assure corrective actions have been taken and completed.
- Answers incoming calls and routes them to their proper destinations, alerts proper agencies to respond, makes notifications and maintains a journal of all.
- Performs maintenance of firefighter equipment, apparatus and storage areas.
- Participates as a student in training sessions in both formal and informal classroom sessions.
- Participates in fire department evolutions and drills for all phases of the fire department operations.
- May also be asked to conduct lectures and demonstrations on fire prevention and protection.
- Executed various additional tasks to support team operations.
Firefighter/EMT
DDSP Fire Department
New Cumberland, United States
03.2002 - 03.2004
- Upon receipt of a fire alarm or other emergency, I responded as a member of a firefighting crew.
- Protocols used were laying hose lines, making rescues and taking the initial fire attack.
- Control, confinement, extinguishment of fires, raising, lowering and climbing ladders, making forcible entries, rescuing victims, ventilating fire areas operating a variety of hand and power tools.
- Worked as a Medical Technician on a BLS Ambulance, rotating through roles as Crew Chief, Driver Operator, and Technician.
- I also served as a driver/operator on a 1000 GPM pumper, 1250 GPM pumper, a heavy rescue and a 102 platform ladder truck.
- Conducted weekly inspections, life safety walk-throughs, and target light assessments to maintain operational readiness.
- I performed daily maintenance on pumper, ambulance, rescue and ladder truck.
- Responded as crew member on Rapid Intervention Team, protecting 1.7 million square foot distribution center, warehouses, and housing area.
- Led engine and truck company during emergency operations, ensuring effective response and safety.
- I responded as a Hazardous Materials Technician.
- I responded to a municipal accident for aircraft emergencies.
- Handled trench and confined space emergencies.
- I stood fire watch and performed equipment station maintenance.
Firefighter
Naval Support Activity Fire Department
Hampden Township, United States
06.1990 - 03.2002
- Upon receipt of a fire alarm or other emergency I responded as a member of a firefighting crew.
- Laying hose line, making rescues and vital fire attack.
- Specific duties included laying and securing hose lines, control confinement and extinguishment of fires.
- Raised and lowered climbing ladders, made forcible entries, rescued victims ventilating fire areas, operating a variety of hand and power tools.
- Administered first aid to sick and injured victims.
- Rotated as a relief driver/operator.
- I drove and operated 1250 GPM pumper, 1000 GPM pumper with a 65 foot elevated master stream as well as a variety of other fire department vehicles.
- Performed other fire related firefighting duties, basic in prevention inspections and pre-fire planning.
- Tested and inspected fire hydrants, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, fire alarm boxes, CO2 systems, halon systems, heat and smoke detectors and interior alarm systems.
- I stood by for fire watches, desk watch and performed station equipment maintenance.
- I responded as a hazardous material technician as certified.
Education
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Hazardous Materials Incident Commander
Fort Detrick, MD03-2003
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Airport Firefighter
Fort Detrick, MD10-2002
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Driver Operator Aerial
Fort Detrick, MD06-2002
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Fire Officer II
Fort Detrick, MD12-2001
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Fire Officer I
Fort Detrick, MD06-2001
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Hazardous Materials Awareness
Fort Detrick, MD01-2001
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Hazardous Materials Operations
Fort Detrick, MD01-2001
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Fire instructor I
Fort Detrick, MD01-2001
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg, PA03-2000
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Driver! Operator Pumper
Fort Detrick, MD08-1998
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Firefighter
Fort Detrick, MD06-1994
High School or equivalent -
James Buchanan High School
Mercersburg, PA06-1985
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Swift Water Rescue Operations
Bachelor of Science - Fire Administration And Fire Investigation
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL08-2026
Skills
- Fire safety regulations
- Emergency response
- Team collaboration
- Risk assessment
- Technical firefighting skills
- Equipment maintenance
- Communication skills
- Situational awareness
- Problem resolution
- Incident command system
- Building construction
- Fire safety
- Ventilation techniques
- Apparatus inspection
- Emergency medical response
- Hose connections
- Staff scheduling
- Firefighting procedures
- Fitness and agility
- Report preparation
- Emergency scene management
- Fire suppression
- Fire service
- Fire hydrant operation
- Radio communication proficiency
- Plans of care initiation
- Firefighting
- Personnel management
- Hazard management
- Rescue equipment use
- Swift water rescue
- Fire control
- Hazardous materials handling
- Semi-annual drills
- Apparatus maintenance
- High angle rope rescue
- Structural firefighting
- Community relations
- Ladder rescue
- Confined space rescue
- Fire prevention strategies
- Public education
- Burning building entry tactics
- Firefighting activities
- Incident safety
- Fire behavior analysis
- Fire regulations expertise
- Wildland firefighting
- High-pressure nozzle changes
- Building containment
- Self-contained breathing apparatus
- Leadership and supervision
- Ladder operation
- Fire apparatus operation
Affiliations
- Rescue Hose Company, Greencastle, PA, Volunteer Firefighter
- MMP & W, Volunteer
Awards
- Defense Logistics Heroism Award, 08/15/04
- Distinguished Unit Citation, 05/27/01
- Distinguished Service Citation, 05/27/01
- Performance Award, 03/15/01
- Performance Award, 05/20/01
- Special Act or Service Award, 08/1991
- Special Act or Service Award, 11/1994
- Special Act or Service Award, 08/1995
- Special Act or Service Award, 11/1995
- Special Act or Service Award, 06/1997
- Special Act or Service Award, 08/1998
- Special Act or Service Award, 05/2000
Languages
English, Advanced, Advanced, Advanced
Certification
- Emergency Medical Technician Basic
Accomplishments
- Individual Citation 2001
- Unit Citation 2001
- DLA Heroism Award 2003
Timeline
Firefighter/EMT
Raven Rock, Mountain Complex Fire Dept.
03.2004 - Current
Firefighter/EMT
DDSP Fire Department
03.2002 - 03.2004
Firefighter
Naval Support Activity Fire Department
06.1990 - 03.2002
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Hazardous Materials Incident Commander
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Airport Firefighter
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Driver Operator Aerial
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Fire Officer II
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Fire Officer I
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Hazardous Materials Awareness
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Hazardous Materials Operations
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Fire instructor I
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Harrisburg Area Community College
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Driver! Operator Pumper
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Firefighter
High School or equivalent -
James Buchanan High School
Technical or Occupational Certificate -
Swift Water Rescue Operations
Bachelor of Science - Fire Administration And Fire Investigation
Columbia Southern University