Vigilant Hose Company Explorer News

The Vigilant Hose Company and Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company's Fire Prevention contest was held on January 19, 2010 at the Vigilant Hose company. The following were named into their Fire Prevention position and will represent their stations throughout the year regarding Fire and Injury Prevention.

Pictured at the left are:

Miss Frederick County Fire Prevention - Elyssa Cool

Little Miss Rocky Ridge Fire Prevention - Jolene Mathias

Rocky Ridge Little Lieutenant - Travis Hovermale

Rocky Ridge Little Chief - Clay Hovermale

Little Miss Vigilant Hose Fire Prevention - Shares Musselwhite

Junior Miss Vigilant Hose Fire Prevention - Alexis Morgan

Miss Vigilant Hose Fire Prevention - Angela Javor

Junior Miss Rocky Ridge Fire Prevention - Kelsey Mathias

Timmy Eckenrode named Vigilant 'Little Chief'
Originally published June 02, 2009
By Frederick News Post Staff Gina Gallucci-White

Emmitsburg -- It takes years for a fire company member to achieve the rank of chief.

Timmy Eckenrode, 10, is Little Chief at Vigilant Hose Co. 6 in Emmitsburg.

Timmy Eckenrode achieved that goal recently, and he will be turning 11 this month. He was named the Vigilant Fire Company's Little Chief of Fire Prevention.

"I was happy that I won," he said.

A panel of fire and rescue officials judged the contestants on interviewing skills and the ability to answer questions on fire prevention.

Eckenrode was one of three company volunteers to win a title.

Judges named Elyssa Cool as Vigilant's Miss Fire Prevention while Angela Javor won the company's Junior Miss Fire Prevention.

While the girls received crowns and sashes, Timmy got a firefighter bobble head as a trophy and a tie with "Little Chief" printed on it.

The Emmitsburg Elementary School student likes his trophy, and said he entered the contest because he likes talking about safety.

"Ever since I was 5 years old, I wanted to be a firefighter and a policeman," he said. "I moved to Emmitsburg and I live down the street from the fire hall now, and so--I kept running to watch the trucks go out when the fire siren" went off.

The advisers for the company's youth group, Junior Explorer Post, took notice and asked him to join.

"I was happy because now I get to come to the fire hall a lot to help with things, and I get to see the trucks and have fun," he said.--

The fifth-grader has been a member of the post since last year.

Explorer becomes Junior Miss contest winner

Originally published April 11, 2009
By Gina Gullucci-White

Frederick News-Post Staff

Emmitsburg -- Angela Javor has been involved with Vigilant Hose Co.'s Junior Explorer Post for more than a year.

She enjoys the activities the group does including putting on gear, training, hooking up the hose and climbing ladders.

Angela, 13, hopes one day to become a firefighter.

"I think it's a really cool job," she said.

Besides being in the youth program, the Thurmont Middle School student was recently named Vigilant's Junior Miss Fire Prevention Queen. This is the first time the company has handed out the title.

"I was happy I won," she said. "I had been studying for it."

The contestants were judged on interview skills and their answers to questions on fire prevention.

Angela was not the only company member to win. Elyssa Cool was named Vigilant's Miss Fire Prevention while Timmy Eckenrode was awarded Vigilant's Little Chief Fire Prevention.

Angela's duties include helping her company's fire prevention committee educate the community, helping with activities and attending meetings. She decided to enter the contest because she wanted to help others.

"I thought it would be really cool to help other kids learn about fire prevention," Angela said.

She is enjoying her title thus far.

Besides her duties with Vigilant, the eighth-grader likes to hang out with her friends and ride her bike.

From explorer to fire company member -- in less than three years
Originally published January 29, 2009

By Gina Gallucci Frederick News Post Staff

EMMITSBURG -- When Elyssa Cool was looking to get involved in the fire service, her cousin David Stonesifer suggested she try the town's Junior Explorer Post 6.

After attending a meeting of the youth group, which is associated with the Vigilant Hose Company, she was hooked.

"I really enjoyed it," she said.

Elyssa Cool as volunteered with the Vigilant Hose Company for almost three years earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2007. She also volunteers with the Emmitsburg Ambulance Company and runs three to four calls a week.

Cool, 18, has been involved in the group for almost three years. She earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2007 and now serves as its president. In November, she became a full-fledged member of the company.

"It was exciting," Cool said. "(The other members) were really excited. They were really welcoming."

She also volunteers with the Emmitsburg Ambulance Company and runs three to four calls a week.

Cool is an award-winning volunteer.

As a part of leadership program Skills USA, Cool participated in a CPR/First Aid competition. After winning first place in the state, she went on to earn third place in the national competition in June 2008 in Kansas City, Mo.

She has also participated in regional team competitions that have garnered her first and second place awards.

The Emmitsburg resident spends most of her free time at the fire and ambulance companies.

Volunteering has given her the opportunity to meet different people and ride in the ambulance, which she enjoys, she said.

"I like being able to spend time helping other people," Cool said. "I'm generally a people person."

The 2008 Catoctin High School graduate is attending Frederick Community College and majoring in general studies. When she completes her courses, she plans to transfer to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, to study paramedics.

Because she loves flying, Cool hopes to be a flight paramedic one day.