Brian Turpin answered his first fire call at the age of 8.

"I tagged along with my father (Ed Turpin), who is fire chief of Universal (Volunteer) Fire Company in Penn Hills," Turpin said, smiling.

Turpin's experience as a firefighter and emergency medical technician made him the top choice for Plum Borough's new emergency management coordinator.

Council approved the appointment at the July 12 meeting. Others who sought the position were Rick Susalla, who has been in the volunteer position for 10 years, and Rick Borgoyne, both members of the Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Company.

Mayor Richard Hrivnak and Manager Michael Thomas are authorized to declare emergencies in the borough. In the event of an emergency, Turpin, who begins his duties around Sept. 1, would go into action bringing together police, fire and emergency medical service providers.

"He's authorized to coordinate all responders," Thomas said.

All municipalities are federally mandated to establish emergency management coordinator positions, Turpin said.

Councilman Paul Dern, who is the public safety committee chairman, said Plum, for the first time, tested candidates for the position.

"I thought about having a test," Dern said. "With the way everything is going, I wanted to have someone certified and set a standard."

The borough turned to Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Bob Full, who prepared a test for Plum to administer.

Turpin, the assistant chief at Unity Volunteer Fire Company, said the test consisted of a combination multiple choice and essay questions outlining scenarios of natural disasters and asking for responses.

Turpin said he decided to try for the post because he has the training and he has some ideas he wants to institute.

One of the first things Turpin expects to tackle is refining the borough's emergency response plan.

He also wants to look into establishing a core of volunteers who would take on the role of a community emergency response team (CERT). Turpin said.

In the eight-hour training course that Turpin is certified to teach, volunteers learn about disaster preparedness and are trained in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue and disaster medical operations.

CERT members are given equipment including safety vests, flashlights and hard hats.

In an emergency, CERT members can assist police, fire and EMS personnel by performing tasks such as checking buildings for structural stabilization and put out small fires.

One of his first activities will be is public safety planning for the 2010 U.S. Women's Open at the Oakmont Country Club in Plum from July 5 to 11, Dern said.

Turpin said a big part of the job is emergency preparedness.

"A lot of it is preplanning -- looking at things like areas to evacuate people," Turpin said.

Dern concurred.

"We want to make sure when something happens in Plum we hit the ground running," said Dern.

Getting to know you

Name: Brian Turpin

Age: 30

Residence: Plum

Education: Plum High School, 1997; bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Edinboro University in 2002; also state certified fire instructor

Family: Fiancee, Deanna, 26; son, Quentin, 10 months

Occupation: Gas rescue supervisor at U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson works in Braddock