Broomall Fire's Family Ties: Matt Murray

Marple Newtown Patch wants you to get to know your first responders. They do dangerous work and Patch would like to recognize them.

Marple Newtown Patch last week and we previously in town who have served and still serve together on the front lines with the .

This week, Marple Newtown Patch gets to know Matt Murray, captain of the Broomall Fire Co.

Name: Matt Murray

Age: 25

Hometown: Broomall

Rank/Title: Captain

How long have you been with the Broomall Fire Co.? Nine years.

What do you like about your job?

The best part about being a volunteer firefighter is the camaraderie amongst the members. Everyone is always joking around and making fun of one another. It is truly a brotherhood and any of our guys would gladly give the shirt off their back if you asked them to.

What do you dislike about your job?

The most frustrating part of this job is that we don’t always get support from members of the community. We are sometimes taken for granted and some people don’t even realize that we are 100 percent volunteer. Being a firefighter is more or less a second job for all of us, and it takes a lot of dedication to be a member.

What inspired you to become a firefighter?

It was in the family. My grandfather, my father, and my brother were all firefighters. When I was a kid, I remember going up to the firehouse every Sunday and "helping out," but I think I did more climbing on the trucks than actually helping out. When I turned 16 and was finally able to join, it was something that I had wanted to do all my life.

What do you like about the Marple Newtown Area?

I’ve lived in Marple all of my life. The one thing I like about Marple is that even though it is one of the larger townships in the county, it has the feeling of a much smaller community.

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

The Broomall Fire Company is 100 percent volunteer, but in order to stay that way we need continued support from the community. Our fund drive is our main source of income, so please give what you can. The last and most important way you can give back to the community is be picking up an application and becoming a member. It’s becoming harder and harder for us to retain our members and at the same time recruit new ones. You can pick up applications at the firehouse on Malin Road, or you can go on our website
www.broomallfirecompany.com.