A Life of Service: An Interview With Lieutenant Ben Cochran Part 1

Lieutenant Ben Cochran has lived in Prince William County for most of his life. He is a graduate of Osbourn Park High School and an attendee of Northern Virginia Community College in Woodbridge. While in college, he became a volunteer with Prince William County Fire and Rescue System and completed EMT school. His volunteer experiences […]

Volunteer Firefighters Who Get Screen Time

Earlier this month, we took a trip through the history of volunteer firefighting and focused on founding fathers who also served in this role. But those famous Americans aren’t the only ones who have worked as volunteer firefighters. Some of today’s celebs have a volunteerism past, and present, as well.   Steve Buscemi Steve Buscemi […]

Our Volunteers Fight Fires, Teach Lessons and Demonstrate Fire Safety

The job our volunteers do each day, serving and protecting the community, is impressive on its own. But did you know they do more? They aren’t just fighting fires and responding to emergencies; they’re also serving as educators and bringing the community together through a variety of events and demonstrations. Those who serve with us […]

Volunteer Firefighters: A Call to Service That Spans the Centuries

In our line of work, we say, “No one does it for the fame.” Our volunteers have a variety of reasons for giving their time — to save people, to serve their community, to advance their education — but you won’t find “to become famous” in that list of reasons. Our volunteers are quiet heroes […]

Tones, Rewards and Challenges: An Interview With Sara Khurshid Part 3

EMT Sara Khurshid took a leap and jumped out of her comfort zone into the volunteer rescue world. And she hasn’t looked back since. What she has done, though, is learn the ropes, face challenges and continue to grow.   Receiving the Call From the moment “the tones drop,” signaling an alarm, Khurshid and the […]

Take a Leap: An Interview With EMT Sara Khurshid, Part 2

Each volunteer has his or her own reasons for volunteering. Sara Khurshid had three. First and foremost, she wanted to step outside of her comfort zone to experience growth. Secondly, she felt a responsibility as a female, Pakistani, Muslim Asian-American to serve in her community. “In my observation, I think sometimes local community outreach within […]

Stepping Out of Her Comfort Zone: An Interview with EMT Sara Khurshid, Part 1

When she was young, there were three professions Sara Khurshid held in high regard: teachers, journalists and firefighters. In her eyes, teachers make the greatest impact on individuals outside of family members, journalists venture into dangerous places to report the truth and firefighters risk their lives to save others. If you had asked her when […]