Name:  Mike (Abu) Abusharia

Age:  22

Hometown:  Alburtis

Family:  He lives at home with his mom, Donna Bascinio.

Occupation:  Abu is employed at Cardinal Systems as an Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator.  He recently graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in safety science.

Fire Company:  He has been with the Alburtis Fire Department for six years.

Training:  “I am trained in all the basics, plus first responder, hazardous awareness, fire police and lots of others.  I am able to move around to work wherever I am needed at the time.”

Describe your job with the fire company.  “I can do pretty much anything around here—whatever is available involving fire police and firefighting.  Because of my work schedule and where I work, I do the 5-11 shift on weekdays.”

How do your loved ones feel about you putting your life in danger?  “My family is good with it.  They encourage it. My grandfather was a firefighter with the Air Force many years ago.”

Tell us a story you'll never forget about your firefighting experience.  “When I was 16, I was curious about firefighters and what they do, so I signed up as a junior firefighter.  As a junior, you aren’t allowed to do very much — just mainly ride along and learn by watching what they do.

“We got called to a barn fire in Topton one night and it was the most amazing, inspirational thing I ever saw. The flames were shooting into the sky and the fire companies (there were a couple others there) were running around trying to save what they could.

“I decided then that I wanted to do that—to help people when they need it.”

What would you tell people interested in joining your fire company?  “Do it. It keeps you out of trouble and it’s a great experience.”

Do you know a volunteer firefighter who Patch should profile? Contact mariella.savidge@patch.com