Volunteer Spotlight: Evan DeVries

Volunteer Name: Evan DeVries

Organization: Excelsior Fire Engine Company of Pearl River

Back in 1945, when all the gear a firefighter had was a pair of rubber boots and a raincoat to keep the water off, Evan DeVries, 81, started his career as a volunteer fireman for the Nyack Fire Department.  After moving to Pearl River in 1957, he joined the Excelsior Fire Engine Company, where he still volunteers today.  For approximately 10 years, he has also lent his time and experience as a Fire Prevention Officer in the Pearl River Fire District.  He is also vice president of the Association of Rockland County Fire Districts Commissioners.

Where do you work?

Before I retired, I was working for Rockland Fire Equipment in Nyack for 25 years.

Why did you first become a volunteer firefighter?

Because that was the thing to do.  Also, both my father and grandfather had been members of the Nyack Fire Department.

How many calls have you been on?

Oh, I don't know.  We respond to 350-400 calls a year.  The last couple of years, there were only two serious fires, a couple years before that, four or five.  We don't really have that many major fires anymore, which has a lot to do with how construction is done now.

What positions have you held?

I've been practically every officer in the fire department, from the lowest lieutenant to fire chief in Pearl River from 1972-1976.  Today, I'm 81 years old and still driving fire trucks.  I've also been fire commissioner in Pearl River since 1981.

What do you like about it that has made you volunteer over the years and do you want to continue?

Helping people, there's a lot of excitement at various times and I've gotten to meet a nice bunch of people along the way.  I will continue to volunteer.

What was training and being a firefighter like when you started and what is it like now?

Fortunately, when I started in Nyack, they were very good at the time and we had a bunch of dedicated people who wanted to help you to be trained.  Before the days of the fire school, you would learn from the more experienced guys in the department, then they got into state certified instructors.  The operation then was much simpler.  There was one hose, connected to one fire hydrant or pumper, and you would take it and aim it at the fire.  Now with all the different equipment we have, you have to train people about how to handle it all, which is a lot of training.  We didn't have as much training or equipment, but one thing is for sure, every fire we went to, we always put out.  Considering the equipment we have today versus the equipment we had 50 years ago, the basic training people go through is much longer. Basic fireman school is in 36 segments, sometimes once or maybe twice a week, depending.

Today, they are far better trained to deal with many different situations.  There's training available for hazmat, mountain rescue, scuba, etc.  All that stuff wasn't even around before, so we just had to improvise.  One of the great things about it though, was that there were mostly blue collar people, not a lot of academic people, but they were smart.  Something needed to be done and we did it, and did it pretty well.  There were some mistakes, but we got it done and did it for nothing.

Interested in joining the Excelsior Fire Engine Company?

All you have to do to get started is give them a call at 845-735-6584, or stop by the firehouse at 1 Mike Kernan Drive, Pearl River. You must be at least 16 years of age and live or work in the Pearl River Fire District.