If you've ever been directed around an accident scene in Marietta Borough or East Donegal Township, chances are, the person who directed you is a member of Marietta Special Fire Police. The organization has been around for almost 100 years, and now it could use your help.

"We are down to five volunteers, and one is on extended medical leave, so we really have four active volunteers," said Steve Bailey, captain of the Marietta Special Fire Police. "We are looking for people who want to help in their community. If we don't get some new volunteers, this organization may be gone by next year."

The Marietta Special Fire Police formed in the 1930s as a way to give older members of the fire company a job when they were no longer able to actively fight fires. In 1988, it became a separate organization from the fire company, but fire police volunteers must still be members of their local fire company.

Volunteers must take a basic fire police course, with all training and equipment paid for by the organization. "You have to be dedicated to do this job," Bailey said. "The state requires certain training, and there are no exceptions, but you have a year to complete it."

Duties of the Marietta Special Fire Police range from assisting with emergencies such as car accidents or fires to helping during community events.

"Basically, our responsibilities are to handle crowd control and traffic control at the scene, so anytime that our fire company is called out to a fire or an accident scene, we respond with them," Bailey commented. "We work to keep the traffic flow going, or at a fire scene, we work to keep civilians out of the way so the firefighters can do their job." Volunteers also help with traffic control for parades and other community gatherings.

With a very small budget from the borough, the organization relies on public support and donations to operate. "We do not get anything from the fire tax," Bailey shared, adding that the fire police are prohibited from charging for their services in the community. The organization does receive some money from the state Fireman's Relief Association for safety equipment, he said, but much of the equipment is very expensive. "The radios we use are $1,500 apiece," Bailey noted.

In a recent month, the Marietta Special Fire Police responded to 19 calls, and Bailey was the only volunteer from the organization on 17 of the calls. He noted that when the organization receives a call, he often must contact several other fire police units to assist with the situation.

Along with people who are willing to go on-site for calls, the fire police could use help in other ways, he said, including fundraising, manning stands at community events and helping with administrative work.

No matter what a volunteer is doing with the Marietta Special Fire Police, he or she is making a difference, Bailey said, adding, "We watch the backs of our first responders so that they can save lives without losing theirs."

For more information on joining the Marietta Special Fire Police, contact Bailey at 717-426-3810 or MariettaEMA@comcast.net.