LOWER BURRELL -- Firefighting is a family affair for Ron and Ruth Hereda.
Both members of the Lower Burrell Volunteer Company No. 1, the Kinloch residents come from a long line of volunteer firefighters. Brothers, daughters, and grandchildren are just a few of the family members involved in volunteer firefighting.
"We all belong," Ruth Hereda said. "It's in our blood."
The siblings took that family connection to a new level last month when Ron Hereda was installed as president of the Pennsylvania Fireman's Association and Ruth Hereda became president of the association's Ladies Auxiliary. Both took their posts at the State Fireman's Association's convention Sept. 26 in Meadville.
It's the first time in the organization's 125-year history that a brother and sister have held the offices at the same time. It's also the first time a brother and sister have served as presidents as did heir parents .
"It's really an honor that we can both share together," Ruth Hereda said. "And it's an honor to follow in our parents' footsteps."
Their father, Teofil "Ted" Hereda, served as president in 1964. Their mother, Ruth, served as Ladies Auxiliary president in 1971.
Officers of the association aren't elected, but move up in the ranks once they begin serving. The Fireman's Association and the Ladies Auxiliary have a different number of offices to move through.
"That's if you get elected every time," Ron Hereda said. "If you're not doing your job, you could be knocked out."
Ron began serving on the Fireman's Association council 11 years ago. Ruth started as three years ago.
"We never knew it was going to work out like this," Ruth Hereda said. "So that was very nice."
The pair was in for another surprise the night they took office.
The association's publicity chairman presented Ron Hereda with a picture of Teofil Hereda. It was taken when he was installed as president of the association, 40 years before to the day.
The Heredas had seen the picture when they were kids, but didn't have a copy.
"He put it in a frame and presented it to me," Ron Hereda said. "It just blew me away."
Their new posts will keep the Heredas busy. As presidents, they will oversee all the Fireman's Association and Ladies Auxiliary committees.
They'll also attend meetings and conventions across the state and around the nation.
It may sound like a lot, but both have had plenty of practice. The siblings aren't only involved with state and local volunteer fireman's associations. They're also involved with volunteer fire associations on the county and regional levels, and between the two of them, they have been involved or are in involved in nearly 40 other organizations.
Though many of those are related to volunteer firefighting, Ron Hereda is also active with the Knights of Columbus and the Lower Burrell Lions. Ruth Hereda has been involved with organizations as varied as the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center Industry Council and the Upper Burrell Shamrocks Marching Unit.
About six years ago, the pair founded the Kinloch Meals on Wheels.
The Heredas agree that volunteering, as firefighters and in other ways, comes naturally. They learned it from their parents, and the community of volunteer firefighters they have been a part of since childhood.
"We were taught you're supposed to give to the community," Ron said. "Not just take from it."
Additional Information:
Hometown treasures
Name: Ruth Hereda.Age: 59.
Hometown: Kinloch section of Lower Burrell.
Family: Boyfriend Bob Jaskiewicz; daughter and son-in-law, Vee and Andy Matisko; eight grandchildren.
Favorite thing about the Valley: It's a friendly, helpful community where people care about each other.
Name: Ron Hereda.
Age: 53.
Hometown: Kinloch section of Lower Burrell.
Family: Fifteen 'children' -- his Dalmatians that range in age from 10 years to 5 weeks old, Pumper, Sparky, Rescue, Arson, Pyro, Tanker, Ariel, Dilly, Hook, Ladder, Ash 2, Hal (short for halogen), Spanner, Bunker, Snozzle
Favorite thing about the Valley: It's the only place I know to live. It's a big city and a small town, you have Pittsburgh half an hour away.
Motto for the Valley: Loyal to duty, dedicated to service.
