Rose Tree Fire Co.: Robert Brown Jr.

Media Patch wants you to get to know your first responders. They do dangerous work and Patch would like to recognize them. Here is a first responder who joined  at 16 years old, fulfilling his childhood dream. Please send us first responders who you would like to see profiled.

Name: Robert Brown Jr. 

D.O.B.: Aug. 13, 1961

Hometown: Upper Providence Township

Rank/Title: First Assistant Chief

How long have you been with the Rose Tree Fire Co.?

Since 1977, so 34 years.

What do you like about your job?

The diversity of the job scene and helping people in different ways. I like the action part of it and operating the equipment and I enjoy taking the trainings and training others.  

What do you dislike about your job?

Firehouse politics. 

What inspired you to become a fire fighter?

It was a childhood dream. I'd hang out here when I was about 12 years old and at 16, I joined. I haven't stopped coming since. I joined with about 12 other guys (including Chief MacCain) and they called us the "dirty dozen." There's about six or eight of us who are still here and now we're all officers or leaders. 

What do you like about the greater Media area?

It's a good community, you have everything you need, shopping, parks, restaurants. It'a a bedroom community, close enough to the city and the shore, but still removed enough.  

What do you want the general public to know about the Rose Tree Fire Co.?

We're a volunteer fire company but the members require the same training and certification that any career firefighter would need. When people find out we're volunteer they think we're lesser quality but we're the same, if not better, than career firefighters. Paid firefighters are trained to do one thing but volunteer is crossed trained to do more. The only difference between career and volunteer is that they are paid. If someone's in danger we're equipped to help for any number of things.