Flushing Volunteer Fire Department

05/23/2026

As EMS week comes to a wrap, we have a few special spotlights for today. Our spotlight feature today is our Ambulance (Squad 24) and our wonderful firemen/station mechanic.

Squad 24 is a 2019 Ford F-450 chassis with a 2007 MedTec box. Squad 24 was re-chassied in 2019 by OsageAmbulances. It is equipped as an ALS ambulance meaning we keep the truck stocked to ensure our advanced providers have the tools and medications necessary to perform like saving interventions while on the scene of calls. Also stocked on our truck is a Stryker Power Cot, a Zoll X Series monitor, and a LUCAS chest compression system. All of these tools combined better help us serve you during the most uncertain times. On average, we are dispatched to approximately 150-200 EMS calls each year. Between our full time crew and volunteers, we respond to nearly every call.

Just as a reminder, whether it’s Squad 24 or another emergency vehicle approaching you from behind utilizing lights and sirens: stay calm, use your turn signal, safely maneuver your vehicle to the far right side of the road, and come to a safe stop so that the emergency vehicles may safely pass.

As mentioned throughout this week, a lot of our responses are volunteer based. Our crew members take time outside of their family lives, full time jobs, and prior engagements to respond when someone in the community is in need. But the dedication doesn’t just lay within our EMTs; it extends into our firemen as well. Without our firemen doing the same and coming to assist with lifting and loading patients; driving; performing CPR; directing traffic; extrication on accident scenes; setting up landing zones for helicopters; and assisting our EMTs in several other ways, we would suffer detrimental delays in care. Their assistance is crucial to ensuring we provide the emergent care our patients need.

Thank you all for all that you do. It does not go unnoticed especially by your department brothers and sisters.

We hope during this week you got to a know a little bit more about the dedicated first responders serving our community.

05/22/2026

Our spotlight today is Rachel Kulpa!

Rachel is our newest EMT addition to FVFD as she passed her NREMT on Monday. Rachel has volunteered for several events such as fish fries, the Halloween cakewalk, parades, and our tree lighting ceremony. She has been an ER RN since 2019 and became involved at the firehouse through her husband, Larry. She recently started to branch into prehospital medicine to better serve the community and extend her passion for serving patients when they need help the most. Outside of volunteering for the department, Rachel works full time as a Registered Nurse at WVU Harrison Community Hospital. In her free time, you can catch Rachel spending time with her husband and their 2 dogs; cheering on her sister from the sidelines of sporting events; and enjoying time with her family.

About Rachel:
-What made you choose EMS? I first got started with EMS because of my husband. I realized there is a serious need for more first responders in this area. I love emergency medicine and figured this was the next logical choice.

-What do you wish the public understood about EMS? I wish they understood just how pivotal emergency medical response is to the chain of survival. Most of the time, first responders go unnoticed and underappreciated when they are a crucial link to establishing definitive care.

-What’s a skill you’re most proud of developing? Not throwing up in the back of the ambulance lol. Anyone who knows me knows that I have the world‘s worst motion sickness!

-What piece of advice would you give your past "new EMT" self? Well, seeing as I currently AM my “new EMT” self, I would say we still have so much to learn.

-What's your favorite off-duty hobby? I don’t have any particular hobbies, but I do enjoy spending time with my family, hanging out with my sister, and sitting outside with my husband watching our dogs play in the yard and swim in the creek.

-Coffee or energy drinks on shift? Unfortunately neither! I used to be the queen of Red Bull but I’ve developed an intolerance to caffeine.

-What’s always in your pocket? My cellphone when it isn’t glued to my hand.

-How do you support your crew during difficult calls? I’ve learned not to pry or force them to talk about things. I’m a big over-sharer of my feelings and emotions but I’ve learned through the years that not everyone is like this; especially first responders. I sit quietly and wait for them to be ready to talk and then I listen.

-Dogs or cats? Dogs! Although I am particularly fond of my parents’ cat.

-Medical or trauma? I like both! But maybe I like trauma just a tiny bit more.

-What does your department mean to you? I started my involvement with the department because I wanted to feel like I was doing more for the community. I just wanted to give back through helping with events. Quickly though, this department became a family to me. We support each other through life and loss, happy times and sad times. It gives me a sense of belonging.

Thank you, Rachel! We appreciate you. Happy first EMS Week!

Stay tuned to see who or what our spotlight post features tomorrow!

05/21/2026

Our spotlight today is Larry Kulpa!

Larry’s love for emergency services started as soon as he learned to walk. He grew up visiting his dad who worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for Ohio County which was conveniently located above Wheeling Fire Headquarters. Anyone who knows Larry knows that he eats, sleeps, and breathes emergency services. We’re pretty sure his first words were “wee-woo”. He started out as a Junior Firefighter with Stonechurch VFD in 2010, became an EMT in 2014, and has been a paramedic for the last 2 years. He works full time at Neffs Fire Department and part time at FVFD. Although he does not reside in Flushing, Larry also comes in during his off time to make volunteer calls from his home in Dillonvale. When he isn’t at either station, you can find Larry spending time with his wife, Rachel; their 2 dogs; and with his family.

About Larry:
-What made you choose EMS? I grew up close to both the fire side from visiting my dad at work and the medical side with my mom being a nurse. From when I was little watching the Wheeling Fire guys respond to calls, I always knew I wanted to help people. I liked the fire side more initially, but working EMS also gives me more opportunities to help those in need. EMS seemed like a logical choice for me.

-What do you wish the public understood about EMS? I wish they understood that the job we do is so much more than just picking someone up and driving them to the hospital. It takes time, knowledge, and skills to treat someone having an emergency and we do it all while in the back of a moving vehicle.

-What’s a skill you’re most proud of developing? Knowing when and how to react in different situations. No two calls and patients are the same.

-What piece of advice would you give your past "new EMT" self? Don’t get tunnel vision; things aren’t always what they seem. And I would say to keep working your job at the hospital- you’ll meet the love of your life while working there.

-What's your favorite off-duty hobby? Fishing with my wife and spending time with family

-Coffee or energy drinks on shift? Both. It depends on my mood. Sometimes, I’ll have both in the same shift.

-What’s always in your pocket? My knife, my phone, a pen (when my nurse wife doesn’t steal it), notepad, and ni****ne

-How do you support your crew during difficult calls? Listening when someone wants to talk and giving feedback when they’re ready to listen.

-Dogs or cats? Both, but since I’m allergic to cats, I guess I’ll say dogs.

-Medical or trauma? Trauma. All the way, trauma.

-What does your department mean to you? This job started out as work. I thought it would just be a check, but it has quickly grown into another family. You spend so much time training and running calls with everyone, you get close. Even though I don’t live in Flushing, I was welcomed in without question. Like every family, we have our disagreements, but at the end of the day, we’re all there for each other.

Thank you, Larry! We appreciate you. Happy EMS Week!

Stay tuned to see who our spotlight post features tomorrow!

05/20/2026

Our spotlight today is Kenny Brooks!

Kenny’s involvement in the fire/EMS industry started when he was just 12 years old as a cadet with Holloway VFD. From there, his experience and career blossomed when he became an EMT in 1998, an A-EMT in 2002, and a paramedic in 2003. Kenny currently works a full time position at Orange Township Fire Department in Delaware County where he started in 2004. In addition to working full time, Kenny also volunteers at FVFD and Belmont Fire Department. Much like our other members, Kenny’s dedication to his community doesn’t stop there as he also works as a part-time investigator for the Belmont County Coroner’s Office. Outside of serving his community, you can catch Kenny spending time with his wife, Bridget and their family.

About Kenny:
-What made you choose EMS? Being a cadet at age 12

-What do you wish the public understood about EMS? Going to the hospital by ambulance does not mean you will be seen faster.

-What piece of advice would you give your past "new medic/EMT" self? Learning never stops

-Coffee or energy drinks on shift? Starbucks

-What's always in your pocket? Ni****ne

-What's your favorite off-duty hobby? Watching my girls playing sports.

-Dog or cats? Dogs

-Medical or trauma? I like parts of both. Trauma raises your adrenaline and medical sometimes makes you use your brain to come up with a differential diagnosis in order to treat your patient appropriately.

Thank you, Kenny, for everything you do! Happy EMS Week!

Stay tuned to see who our spotlight post features tomorrow!

05/19/2026

Our spotlight today is none other than Mayor Preston Eberhart!

Preston has been an EMT/paramedic for a combined total of 24 years. Throughout this time, he has been a member of FVFD for all 24 years and has worked full-time at Neffs Fire Department for 15 years. While working part time and volunteering at FVFD, Preston is the Fire Captain and while working his full-time job at Neffs, Preston is the EMS Captain as well as the Union President. Preston offers years of knowledge and experience and helps to further grow the EMS community by precepting EMT students. When he is not at either department, you will find Preston spending time with his loving wife, Rhonda, and their 16-year-old son, Isaiah. Preston is just as dedicated to his family life as he is to his community. Despite the hours he spends serving the citizens of Belmont County, Preston also finds time to assistant coach the bowling team at Union Local. In his free time, you can catch Preston riding his Harley, attending family sporting events, or spending time with the family’s three dogs.

About Preston:
-What made you choose EMS? I wanted to follow in my family’s footsteps.

-What do you wish the public understood about EMS? While we are always ready to serve you and your family in the face of an emergency, I wish more people understood that EMS as a whole is not an Uber service.

-What’s a skill you’re most proud of developing? I am most proud of developing the ability to compartmentalize emotions during stressful situations in order to stay calm in the face of uncertainty.

-What piece of advice would you give your past "new EMT" self? Get your medic sooner!

-What's your favorite off-duty hobby? Riding my motorcycle.

-Coffee or energy drinks on shift? Energy drinks.

-What’s always in your pocket? Phone and trauma shears.

-How do you support your crew during difficult calls? I found the best way to support the crew is to just sit and listen when they need someone to talk to.

-Dogs or cats? Dogs.

-Medical or trauma? Definitely trauma.

-What does your department mean to you? This department is like having a second family. We love each other like siblings, but sometimes you just want to punch those siblings in the throat, LOL.

Thank you, Preston, for everything you do for your community and your department brothers and sisters. Happy EMS Week!

Stay tuned to see who our spotlight post features tomorrow!

05/18/2026

Our spotlight today is Lori Mann!

Anyone who knows Lori knows that she wears many hats both inside and outside of the department. Lori has been an EMT since 2007 and an A-EMT since 2018. As of 2025, she is also an EMT instructor. Inside the department, she works part time as an A-EMT and is also our EMS Captain, but her dedication to serving her community doesn’t stop at the garage doors. She works full time as an investigator with the Belmont County Coroner’s Office. When Lori isn’t answering calls or keeping the department running, you can find her driving around her red Jeep, sitting poolside, and spending time with her husband, Tim of 30 years; her 4 sons; and her 6 grandchildren. Someone get Lori a medal and a Chai Tea!

About Lori:
-What made you choose EMS? I became a member of this department because my husband said it would be fun. LOL. Honestly though, I saw the need for more people to join and help the community. The FVFD had made more than several calls for my dad when he had health issues. But after we needed the squad for my 5-year-old who was seizing and turning blue, I wanted to pay it forward. Without those who dropped what they were doing to come save my son, I guarantee he would not be here today.

-What do you wish the public understood about EMS? 1: Not only do we treat your family, but I have also treated my own family, friends, and close family friends more than once. 2: we still have lives outside of the department.

-What piece of advice would you give your past "new EMT" self? Keep learning!

-What’s always in your pocket? My cellphone of course! When it’s not ringing!

-What's your favorite off-duty hobby? Being with my family preferably in the pool or on the back patio where Tim and I designed our own oasis. But really being anywhere that I can spend time with my kids and grandkids.

-Coffee or energy drinks on shift? I prefer an Iced Chai Tea from Starbucks with light strawberry foam or a black raspberry milkshake from Clay’s.

-Dogs or cats? Either! We have had them all and then some!

-Medical or trauma? Give me a trauma any time any day! My husband says I run on chaos!!

-What does your department mean to you? The FVFD has become our family. We fight like siblings most days, but always know we can depend on each other when we need something. We try to support each other on the job and in our personal lives. We’ve all watched a dog or kid or even a house for the other. Just don’t ask to drive my Jeep!

Thank you, Lori, for your service and being the glue that keeps us all together! Happy EMS week!

Stay tuned to see who our spotlight post features tomorrow!

05/17/2026

Today begins National EMS week. Every day this week (from 05/17/26 through 05/23/26), we will spotlight our EMS personnel as well as information about our station. We hope this week, you will get to know a little bit more about the dedicated medical first responders serving our community.

First up: Chief, Robert Eberhart, lovingly known as "Chief Bob." Chief Bob is a family man, father of 2 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, and an involved grandfather to his 2 grandsons. He has been with the department for 51 years, was a paramedic in the 80s and 90s and remains an EMT today. Outside of his department duties and diligently serving his community, you can catch Chief on the sidelines supporting his grandsons at their sporting and school events or out riding his Harley to get his favorite treat - a black raspberry milkshake!

About Chief Bob:
-What made you choose EMS? I chose EMS because I just want to help people.

-What do you wish the public understood about EMS? I would like the public to know that we do our best to serve them with only 3 full time members and a few volunteers.

-What piece of advice would you give your past "new EMT" self? If I had to tell my new EMT self something, I would tell him this is a thankless job, but it's worth it.

-What's your favorite off-duty hobby? I like to go bowling or build model cars.

-Coffee or energy drinks on shift? Coffee is my favorite morning drink.

-How do you support your crew during difficult calls? I always offer them support on good calls and bad ones. I make sure to tell them when they do a great job no matter what kind of call and listen when they need to talk after a bad one.

-Dogs or cats? Dogs are my favorite animal.

-Medical or trauma? I've always liked trauma more than medical.

-What does your department mean to you? This isn't a department to me; it's family.

The department members would like to thank you, Chief Bob, for being an incredible resource and support system to your fellow EMTs and your community.

Stay tuned to see who our spotlight post features tomorrow!

05/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1NP9mXJKxo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Across the world, on May 4, we stand united by a profound sense of remembrance and respect.

International Firefighters’ Day is more than a date.
It is a shared global moment — a moment to pause.

To remember and honour the lives of those who have passed.
To commemorate the courage and commitment of those who serve today.
To educate and inspire those who will serve in the future.

This day provides us with space to reflect on courage, on service freely given without expectation, and on lives lost while protecting others.

A life lived in service of others is never forgotten.

The legacy of those we honour does not fade with time. It lives on in the values they embodied and in the communities they protected.

Wherever May 4 finds you today, we thank you.

www.firefightersday.org

04/23/2026

Thank you to all those who Volunteer at the Flushing VFD !

04/03/2026