HUGHESTOWN — If you had asked Abby Decker a year ago what kind of career she wanted, she would have told you she didn’t have a clue.

Just a few short months ago, though, Decker’s career choice hit her like a Mack truck.

Fast forward to today and be prepared for this high school freshman to talk your ear off. She knows exactly what she wants to do and that is to help save lives.

Decker, along with 11 other probees (probationary members), is able to make her dreams possible through the Hughestown Hose Co. (HHC).

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“My friend (and classmate) Matt Crawford has been in the firefighter probation program for a while now and wanted me to join, so I went up to look at everything one day and I joined,” Decker said. “I ended up really loving it.”

Crawford, 15, of West Pittston, and Decker, of Swoyersville, are probationary firefighters at the HHC. There are 12 people n the probationary program, both adults and those under 18 years of age.

The training has been intense and all the probees take the program seriously, aware of the dangers involved in fighting fires.

The HHC accepts area residents between the ages of 14 and 17. If a candidate is under the age of 17, they shall remain probationary status until they reach the age of 18. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 or greater in school to remain in the program at all times.

Decker and classmate Lauren Earlley, 15, of Wyoming, joined at the same time last October and are the newest members of the HHC probationary program. Decker is training for fire and EMS and Earlley is training for EMS.

Probationary members become full-fledged firefighters and EMTs once all the requirements are met or unless otherwise directed by the HHC Fire Chief.

“Our gear alone is an extra 40 pounds and the air packs are another 30 pounds so it’s hard,” Decker said. “It’s crazy. I never even knew how much we can do for how young we are; we do a lot.”

Probees need to fulfill four requirements to get through the program — Essentials of Firefighting Course or an equivalent thereof, Hazardous Materials, Introduction to the Incident Command System and National Incident Management Systems.

According to Jamie Merlino, HHC department chief, the probationary program has been in existence for about 13 years.

“Abby is in the process, along with other junior members, and they’re all doing a great job,” Chief Merlino said. “In the beginning, she was shy and timid on what she could physically achieve and we had to push her a little bit.”

One way for Decker to get more confidence was to put her in simulated conditions in which firefighters would engage on a daily basis.

“When put through drills, she did a really good job,” Merlino said. “She just has to get more and more confident.”

The probees are constantly put through their paces, attending drill exercises and even going on fire and EMS calls. They are limited on fire call duties and EMS runs and must abide by the rules.

The program is not all fun and games. When not drilling or training, the probees are working two to three days doing chores.

“They are required to be at the firehouse every Sunday for in-house training,” Merlino said. “They’re all scheduled for cleaning days or chores day.”

Merlino said the HHC is hosting a firefighting academy class for probees when staff from Bucks Country Community College will conduct the course starting on March 6. “That will be their basic firefighting class. Once they pass that class, they will have completed that requirement.”

“Proud doesn’t begin to cover it,” said Elizabeth Decker, Abby’s mother. “It’s shocking and surprising and I couldn’t be happier that she found something that makes her proud. For your child to take something like this on at such a young age is a testament to her character, a testament to her willpower and her courage.”

Abby, along with the other probees, is looking forward to continuing on in the firefighting field and/or the EMS field or even the sciences. She is already looking into colleges with firefighting/EMS curriculums.

“She’s a good kid and she’s definitely becoming a good role model and she’s making good choices, better choices than I made at 15,” Elizabeth Decker said.

Shown are six of the 12 people in the Hughestown Hose Co.’s probationary firefighting/EMS program. From left, Macie Morell, 19, Hughestown; Abby Decker, 15, Swoyersville; Madison Merlino, 19, Hughestown; Mathew Crawford, 15, West Pittsto; James Laskowski, 15, PIttston.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Decker1.jpg.optimal.jpgShown are six of the 12 people in the Hughestown Hose Co.’s probationary firefighting/EMS program. From left, Macie Morell, 19, Hughestown; Abby Decker, 15, Swoyersville; Madison Merlino, 19, Hughestown; Mathew Crawford, 15, West Pittsto; James Laskowski, 15, PIttston. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

Abby Decker, 15, of Swoyersville, and a Wyoming Area student, stands in front of her locker at the Hughestown Hose Co.’s firehouse. Decker is in the probationary firefighter/EMS program.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Decker2.jpg.optimal.jpgAbby Decker, 15, of Swoyersville, and a Wyoming Area student, stands in front of her locker at the Hughestown Hose Co.’s firehouse. Decker is in the probationary firefighter/EMS program. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

Abby Decker gets into her firefighter gear, adding an extra 30 pounds to her body weight.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Decker3.jpg.optimal.jpgAbby Decker gets into her firefighter gear, adding an extra 30 pounds to her body weight. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

James Laskowski, 15, of Pittston, and Mathew Crawford, 15, of West Pittston, demonstrate what it’s like to suit up for a potential fire.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Decker4.jpg.optimal.jpgJames Laskowski, 15, of Pittston, and Mathew Crawford, 15, of West Pittston, demonstrate what it’s like to suit up for a potential fire. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

Fifteen-year-old Abby Decker is shown in her firefighting gear at the Hughestown Hose Co. fire station.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Decker5.jpg.optimal.jpgFifteen-year-old Abby Decker is shown in her firefighting gear at the Hughestown Hose Co. fire station. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Hughestown Hose Co. Probation Program introduces teens to firefighting

By Tony Callaio

For Sunday Dispatch

Reach the Sunday Dispatch newsroom at 570-991-6405 or by email at sd@psdispatch.com.