Shelly Pennington, June 2024 - First Responder of the Month Honoree
Shelly Pennington, June 2024
Shelly Pennington is the chief of the Rossiter Volunteer Fire Department, the first female fire chief in Indiana County history.
Shelly Pennington
Rossiter Volunteer Fire Company – 28 years
Chief -7 years
Treasurer – 20 years
Pennsylvania Forest Fire Warden – 22 years
Emergency Management Coordinator Canoe Township – 17 years
Why do you do what you do?
I enjoy helping people and helping the community. It gives me a good feeling to be able to help people when they are in need, and it gives me a purpose in life.
What influenced you to get into public service?
I never really thought about it growing up. My Dad was a social member and when I turned 16 he told me the Fire Company needed members, I joined just to help out with fundraisers. After doing just fundraisers for a while I became interested in fighting fires.
What part of this service has been the most gratifying?
Being part of an organization that helps people when they need it the most.
What part of this service has been the hardest?
I would have to say getting everything done that needs done with also having a full-time job and running my own business.
Becoming the first female Fire Chief in Indiana County
In 2002 I was appointed Captain, I was Captain for several years and gradually moved up through the ranks. I served as 2nd Assistant as well as 1st Assistant and then was elected Fire Chief in 2017. It means a lot to me to be Fire Chief, it is a lot of responsibility, but I have a lot of good members and officers and that makes it a lot easier. Becoming the First Female Fire Chief did not seem to be a big deal to me at first but now looking back it was a great accomplishment I worked hard and I feel that I earned it just like anybody else would have male or female.
What I do for a living?
I have a full-time job at Punxsutawney Walmart as Hardlines Team Lead. They work very well with me and other first responders that are employed there allowing us to leave work to respond to calls. That is very helpful.
I also own my own business; I own a small Gun Shop in Rossiter called Dug Hill Ammo & Arms LLC.
