Not many people would volunteer to enter burning buildings in the middle of the night, but for Wayne Fortuna, the call to serve as an unpaid firefighter for the Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department is one that he never regretted.
“I still don’t know why I do it,” Fortuna said. “I don’t do it for a pat on back. I don’t do it for a paycheck. I just do it. It’s fun. We have a great group of people.”
The veteran fireman has been fighting fires for 25 years and is now preparing to pass the torch to his assistant chief, Casey Marek.
Fortuna, 59, isn’t quite ready to hang up his fireman’s hat, though. He’ll be continuing his service to the Bell Acres community in his new role as assistant fire chief.
Fortuna’s fellow firefighters surprised him on Jan. 19, with a commemorative plague recognizing his 13 years of service as fire chief for the BSCVFD.
For Fortuna’s wife, Billie Jo (BJ), the handoff ceremony felt like a full circle moment for her family.
BJ Fortuna’s father was a volunteer firefighter who held various officer rankings, including fire chief. Her mother was one of the original women who began the VFD Ladies Auxiliary, where she held many rankings, as well.
“My mom and dad were part of the original founding members, selling bricks in our community to literally build the fire station and the hall that remains standing in the same spot today,” she said.
When Fortuna married BJ, he knew that he would eventually follow in the family’s footsteps. He joined the fire department the day after couple bought their home in Bell Acres.
Managing fires isn’t the only aspect of a fire chief’s job, though. Managing people is a big part of it. It’s a responsibility that Fortuna takes seriously.
“My husband has mentored young men that maybe didn’t know what their next step would be,” said BJ. “They looked to my husband as a role model.”
One of those young men is Marek, who trained under Fortuna’s leadership for the past 15 years and is motivated to be a role model himself for the next generation.
“I think the best thing about it is that when we show up to any call, the families are just grateful we’re there,” said Marek. “Knowing that I’m helping members of my community is what keeps me motivated.”
Like Fortuna, Marek is also committed to continuing his family’s legacy of service. His grandfather was a founding member who helped build the station that exists today.
“A good chief left, but another good chief came to take his place,” said Ken Alvania, mayor of Bell Acres, who attended the ceremony.