In 2000 Ken Treffinger had been a firefighter for 53 years. He says that was the best idea he ever had. He remembers back when he first started, he was given a helmet, and coat and he bought his own gloves! It must of been difficult trying to help to put out the fire with an axe when you couldn't see an inch in front of your face. Today firefighters have great technology so they can survive in a burning house and be more successful with the new equipment.

Ken told us his father was Assistant Fire Chief and he used to go to the firehouse and watch his father practice. At that time he needed to be 21 years of age to join the Perkasie Fire Company.

We asked if it ever mattered to him that he was never paid like firefighters in the city. He replied "it is a great feeling when you know you are helping the community."

Ken says the worst day of his life as a firefighter was the Great Perkasie Fire of 1988, but he felt worse for the people than the town. He said, "all their possessions, pictures, and memories were burnt away in a matter of seconds."