Firefighting in the Carlisle area is mostly volunteer, but don’t be surprised if you see members of a paid fire department helping out if your home is on fire.
They would be coming from the Carlisle Barracks, which houses a paid, two-engine fire department that provides 24/7 staffing.
Every post with an active military presence is required to have a fire department, according to Capt. Eric Bender. Their primary responsibility is to protect the Barracks, and every day they are conducting some sort of training in everything from wildfires to human trafficking.
But perhaps most importantly to the Carlisle area, they provide mutual aid for many emergencies in Carlisle, North Middleton Township, Middlesex Township and specialized county services, Bender said. They also participate in community events like National Night Out, local parades and public events at the Army Heritage Education Center.