By Cheryl Conway
Most non-paid emergency service and fire department volunteers live in the town they serve to help their neighbor, be involved or give back to their community.
In Mt. Olive, there is one business owner who has gone above and beyond his line of duty to serve not only in the town he lives but in the town he works. Adam Barish of Kinnelon - owner of Route 46 Chevrolet in Hackettstown - has recently joined the Budd Lake Volunteer Fire Company #1 as a part-time volunteer fire fighter.
He is a non-paid volunteer in all corners of his world just because he feels it is the right thing to do.
“I just have this natural desire to help the community at large,” says Barish. “It started when I was 16 and it just sticks with me.I just want to contribute to this world; I get self-satisfaction from it.”
As a resident of Kinnelon, Barish has served the Kinnelon Fire Department for the past 14 years. He currently serves as a regular member but has also served at second assistant and first assistant of that department. Knowing how much Kinnelon “hurts for people during the day” to volunteer their time, Barish figured why not volunteer in the town he works in during the day.
So he walked down to the Budd LakeFire Dept. and “they put me on instantly,”says Barish. They had a part time spot for him so he could help out during the daytime. “I met all the guys and they put me on.” Barish just joined on June 1.
“I may as well give to the communityt hat’s giving to my livelihood,” says Barish,who has owned Route 46 Chevrolet since Aug. 15, 2012. The dealership was formerly called Kevil Chevrolet and was owned by Mike Kevil, who ran the dealership since1984 until he died July 2012 of a heart attack, he says.
Barish and his sister, Jessica - also owns Route 23 Honda in Pompton Plains.
Barish got involved as a volunteer when he was 16 yeas old, when he and some friends got EMT certified and joined theWest Orange First Aid Squad, which he served for eight years.
He worked for the First Aid Squad in Pequannock from 1990 to 1991 and then in 1999 joined the Kinnelon Fire Department. Barish also currently serves as Kinnelon’s Volunteering High On One Local Businessman’s Ladder Department Emergency Management Coordinator (DEMC). As a certified coordinator of the Community Emergency Response Team, Barish trains others in first aid, basic fire suppression, search and rescue, disaster psychology, and terrorism awareness.
In May, Barish was voted Kinnelon Citizen of the Year by the Lakeland Hills YMCA in Mountain Lakes for his efforts like setting up a Facebook Page during Hurricane Sandy to inform residents on daily statuses and power outages.
“I just love this stuff,” he says. He is certified in fire fighter I and II, fire officer, IMS Level I, small boat and water rescue.
Barish has enjoyed the camaraderie and self satisfaction that comes with his volunteering.By being involved in the fire department, Barish appreciates “hanging out with people who want to help others; who aren’t afraid to run into a building while others are running out; to be with other doers, other rescuers.”
When he is responding to calls in Kinnelon, he says he feels the appreciation from his neighbors.
“I’m your neighbor,” says Barish. “This fear and worry turns into ‘thank God for my neighbor or showing up.” There is a “satis-faction of seeing your neighbor face to face;you tend to be the go to person,” or the per-son to go to for advice.
“Advanced first aid, it sticks with you forever,” says Barish. “There’s a certain sat-isfaction.” Whether there is an emergency in a park or a restaurant, he’s “always the goto guy. There’s a certain amount of self-satisfaction that comes when you know what to do. Emergency stuff always happens in front of me.”
Barish recalls the time he was waiting in line at Sea World when he came to the aid of another man who became overheated. “I grabbed him, lowered him down, put him in the shade and put his feet up, put a bottle of water under his shirt. It’s just stuff that stays with you. You don’t do it because you want to be the local hero. You are there because they want to give back to the com-munity. You want to do something to help others.”Barish has been a positive influence to others.
“It sets a great example to my children seeing me volunteer and doing,” says Barish. His son, Evan, 16, joined the Kinnelon Fire Department Junior program this past May; and his wife Kimberly, joined the Kinnelon Fire Auxiliary in 1999 and serves as its treasurer.
“I talk to people all the time and every-one says I don’t have the time, I have a family, I have a job. You have more confidence in what you are doing once you are trained. If anyone can give that much more and you show up for one call a week, that’s one more less that the other volunteers have to do.”
Also, “with all these volunteers, it keeps our taxes down. ”After the drowning of two teenagers last year on Budd Lake, Barish donated three ice rescue suits from Route 46 Chevrolet to the Budd lake Fire Department, a value of $3,608 in equipment.
“It’s unusual for someone out of town to get involved,” says Barish. “I understand there are a lot of sole proprietors. I’m fortu-nate enough to have a staff who can fill in.The fire department is literally two minutes down the road. It’s when you start giving your time that you really care.”
Barish encourages others to consider volunteering. “If you have even the slightest interest,go explore it,” says Barish. “Talk to your local fire department or rescue squad. Wherever you are, if you’ve been thinking about it, go act on it. You’re going to love every minute of it.”
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