Lance Corenell – Fire

When did you become a volunteer & when did you decide to join Arcola (if different)?

I joined in 2013 as a junior member and been volunteering with Arcola ever since.

Why did you become a volunteer & Why did you join  Arcola?

I have had a fascination with fire and EMS since I was a little kid. When I turned 16 I gave it a shot and I have enjoyed being a part of the culture and service ever since.  I chose Arcola because it is the closest volunteer department to my home and is the last operational volunteer department on the south end of the county.

What positions in the department have you held?   What have you learned from them?

I started as a junior member running fire and EMS side of the house. Got my EMT first then my firefighter certs shortly after. I became an AIC shortly after graduating high school and more recently became the DPO for Thursday crew. With the skills I learned and experience gained from volunteer and career mentors, I became a career firefighter with the Prince William County Fire Dept.

With which committees or projects have you been involved, and what have you learned from them?

I am currently in charge of the new Brush truck project. I’ve never been a part of a spec committee before. So there is some learning to be done.

Were you mentored?  Have you been a mentor?   If so, tell us about that experience.  

The volunteer and career relationship at Arcola in my opinion is the best in the county. We all train together and worked together as a station and this has brought more knowledge base than I would have received from just a select few people. So many people have helped me become the firefighter I am today. In the past year or so, I have taken a mentor role in training the upcoming probationary firefighters, getting them ready for fire school. As well as the yellow hats and master firefighters in improving their overall skills. More recently I have been training Arcola’s future DPO’s.

What was/is your “day job”?

I am a firefighter with Prince William County Fire Dept. Currently in class to become a  paramedic.

How do you feel your service has enriched your life/your family’s life?

Volunteering has opened doors for me that I would not have had the ability to do before. It has given me a career. It is also a good feeling to know that I am one of the responders that would provide emergency services to my family and friends should they need fire/ rescue.

What would you say to someone today who is interested in joining the fire and rescue service? Would you advise them to join Arcola and Why?

The fire service is a very rewarding and challenging job that most people do not get to experience.