Father/Son Duos Enjoy Volunteering at Harmonville Fire Company

HARMONVILLE — There are many “firsts” in life that you just never forget.

For Mike Sturm, a firefighter with Harmonville Fire Company, one of them was the first time he responded to a fire call with his father, Ed, nearly 15 years ago.

“It was actually a call right around the corner, probably like two blocks away,” Mike recalls. “I just remember sitting in the back of the fire truck watching my dad drive. It was surreal seeing your dad driving you to a call.”

Mike, 34, is now a Battalion Chief for Harmonville, the same rank his father held until 2014 when he became no longer active. Mike joined the fire company in 2005 as a junior firefighter. Ed, who was an active firefighter for 45 years, recalls when his son decided to volunteer.

“It was fantastic to see him join and take up the leadership that he has now,” Ed said. “I’m proud of him, I really am.”

Though no longer an active firefighter, Ed remains involved with Harmonville Fire Company to this day. His wife, Donna, was also an active firefighter for about 10 years and remains an administrative volunteer.

Ed and Mike were active together for nearly 10 years. During that time, they responded to many calls together — often with Ed driving the firetruck.

“It was fun to fight fires with him, and as a father, you always want to protect your son,” Ed said. “Now he’s a Battalion Chief and an Assistant Fire Marshal, so it’s really nice to see him carry on that legacy.”

Mike encourages more father-son duos to volunteer together for Harmonville Fire Company.

“At the firehouse, we’re all family with different last names,” Mike said. “But it’s great to see real family join, too.”

Volunteering a great bonding experience for father, son

A few years ago, Harmonville Fire Company changed the requirement to join its junior firefighter program from 16 years old to 14. That news was music to now 17-year-old Jimmy Toth Jr.’s ears.

“He talked about it from a young age how he couldn’t wait until he was 16 to join,” said his father Jim Toth Sr. “When they changed it to 14, he was so excited that he could join earlier.”

Jim Sr. also joined the fire company as a teenager in 1994 when he was 16 years old. He now holds the position of Assistant Chief Engineer and Vice President. As a junior firefighter, Jimmy Jr. provides assistance on fire calls and at the fire station, handling gear, apparatus, ladders, and hoses.

“I was just kind of born into it,” said Jimmy Jr., whose grandfather was also a firefighter in Philadelphia. “I was always doing things at the firehouse because of my dad. I grew up with firefighting in my blood.”

Now a junior at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Jimmy Jr. says volunteering with his father has turned into a great bonding experience. Seeing his father in action on calls gives him confidence to follow in his footsteps.

“It’s a good feeling going on calls with him, because then you have someone that you really look up to,” he said.

After graduation, Jimmy Jr. is considering becoming a full-time firefighter. For now, he’s been taking classes and doing all the training he can.

Jim Sr. says it’s been very gratifying seeing his son follow in his footsteps.

“I remember at Plymouth Township Day when he was maybe 5 or 6 years old, we set up a thing where you shoot hoses at fake fire and knock it over,” Jim Sr. said. “The local paper took a picture of me and him. We’ve been kind of doing that the whole time.”

When they’re not volunteering together, the Toth father and son pair enjoy riding ATVs together.

“I work a normal job (installing sewers) during the day,” Jim Sr. said. “I just volunteer when I can – nights, weekends, holidays, whenever. If the pager goes off, and I'm available, we go.”

Harmonville Fire Company is looking for volunteers to fill the following positions: Firefighter, vehicle rescue, fire police, junior firefighter, and administrative.

For more information, or to fill out an inquiry form, visit www.JoinHarmonvilleFire.org.