They manage traffic, control crowds and protect property.

Despite a glaring shortage, they do the best with what they have to ensure firefighters and other emergency personnel can perform their duties seamlessly.

For their dedication, positive attitude and selflessness, Blocker’s Collision Center in Lehighton recently presented the Lehighton fire police, Franklin Township fire police and Mahoning Valley fire police with gas cards to Fast Fill in Lehighton.

Trenton Blocker, owner of Blocker’s Collision Center, explained why the business chose to give out the gas cards to the fire police.

“We want to give back to the people that give back to us,” Trenton said.

Trenton’s grandfather, Tarone Blocker, agreed.

Tarone Blocker, who had been shop owner, retired last year, 50 years after he started out in the business.

“Every time I see you guys, I thank you,” Blocker told the fire police on hand who accepted the gift cards at Blocker’s Collision Center. “You do a great job.”

Blocker added most people have no idea what fire police do for them, and because of that, they should make it a point to thank them for their service.

Life in the fire police

Among those on hand were Richard Armbruster, a member with the Lehighton fire police since 2002, Roger Mriss, a member with the Lehighton Fire Department since 1983, and Steve Warnkin, a member with the Franklin Township fire police for over five years.

Lehighton currently has five fire police members, while Franklin Township has eight.

Those numbers clearly pale in comparison to years back, when Armbruster said the Lehighton fire police used to have anywhere from 20 to 25 fire police.

“There’s just a whole bunch of classes you have to take,” said Armbruster, who added people who want to become fire police nowadays want to get paid. “It’s a volunteer job; you volunteer.”

Mriss noted that people simply don’t want to go through the training.

“You need a lot of training,” Mriss said. “You got to be able to protect people’s rights.”

Armbruster concurred and noted they have in-house training “to see what can we do better.”

Armbruster cautioned that once the yellow tape is posted around the house, people can’t cross over the yellow tape.

Why they do it

Armbruster said that last year he sat down at the dinner table for his Thanksgiving meal when a brush fire broke out in Jim Thorpe.

“I was gone all day,” he said. “In the winter you have to be careful in the weather; you have to dress warm because you never know how long you’re going to be there.”

Specifically, Armbruster said the first 5 to 10 minutes are crucial when responding.

“Traffic control, (monitoring) the scene, you got to have crowd control,” he said. “It’s hard to keep people back.”

Warnkin said their responsibility is to make sure people are safe, and that when there is a crash or fire, to watch out for their guys.

“People might get mad at us, but it’s what has to be done,” Warnkin said. “Some people grab onto it quicker than others.”

Armbruster said every call is a new adventure.

“Every call is different; not one call is alike,” he said. “We’re doing a good job with what we have.”

Armbruster shared why exactly he continues to do what he does.

“I like to volunteer,” he said. “It keeps me active.”