VIDEO: This week marks the 50th anniversary of EMS Week, and one Pennsylvania department is celebrating faster response times, thanks to new graduates from the fire academy.
"A dream. I love my job," said Joshua DePietro, more than two weeks into his new role as a firefighter-paramedic.
He is one of 12 new professional firefighters and emergency medical technicians with the Upper Merion Township Fire Department. DePietro helps to supplement about 50 volunteer first responders who cover the community of more than 35,000 people.
"We can help them out, they help us out," he said. "And it creates better coverage for the township at whole."
Before graduation day on May 3, the department had just one shift with professional firefighters and EMTs along with on-call volunteers, Upper Merion Fire Chief James Johnson said.