The Dale City Volunteer Fire Department (DCVFD) plays an important role in keeping community members safe.
However, it’s members don’t merely learn how to respond to emergencies. They also acquire an assortment of skills.
Supervisor Victor Angry began volunteering at the DCVFD about 8 years ago.
“When I came to the department, one of the greatest things I saw was that here is a volunteer organization that’s not even military related — it’s not even national — and we have young people wanting to come and be a part of something that’s bigger than themselves — to protect the community without any strings attached,” Angry said.
Majd Mansour is one volunteer he has worked alongside.
Mansour met Angry at a career day during middle school.
Then then 14-year-old assured Angry that he would apply in two years. He stayed true to his promise.
“On my 16th birthday, I actually went down to fire station 18 to put in my application, and then I just started the process from there,” Mansour said.
Recently, the Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire General Services Technician earned his Black Hat.
To receive a Black Hat, an individual must go through fire school, which can take between four months to a year.
“It’s a big accomplishment to go through that and actually complete it,” Mansour added.
His completion of the volunteer fire department course stood out to Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire ST Billingsley when he was reviewing Mansour’s job application.
“Even as businesses, we need to look for these organizations that are producing young people like this, because that’s a resource in our community,” Billingsley said.
DCVFD has helped Mansour grow in many ways since he began volunteering two years ago.
“It taught me how to follow orders, and it also taught me a lot of leadership skills and just kind of how to work with other people,” he explained.
