Scott Garing

In Familiar Territory: Garing takes over helm at Cranberry Fire and Emergency Services

Getting to know new co-workers can often be one of the most stressful and time-consuming parts of a taking a job.

Luckily for Scott Garing, that “getting-to-know-you” period has been taking place for decades.

Garing was recently hired as the Township’s Chief of Fire and Emergency Services, where he’ll put his 22 years of service as a paramedic and volunteer fire fighter to work.

A Harmony native and Seneca Valley graduate, Garing has dedicated his life to public safety. He has the education to back it up, as he owns an undergraduate degree in public administration from Point Park University and a graduate degree in public policy and management from the University of Pittsburgh. He also is a certified chief level executive fire officer and a paramedic.

He’s put that education to use at organizations like Ross/West View EMS Rescue and Quality EMS, as well as his volunteerism with the Harmony Fire District.

There, he helped lead the merger of the former Zelienople and Harmony volunteer fire departments to form the Harmony organization and served as chief for many years. 

It’s also where he built relationships with Cranberry fire crews through the Standard Actions for Emergency Response (SAFER) Group. The group – consisting of Harmony, Cranberry, Adams, Evans City and Callery fire organizations - provide mutual aid to one another to ensure response to emergency situations is adequate – and then some.

The teamwork, dedication and passion shown through his work with the SAFER Group and elsewhere stood out to Township leaders, who believe Garing is more than equipped to help lead the department forward.

It’s already paid off, as Garing also recently took over as the Township’s Emergency Management Agency Coordinator. He’s currently serving as coordinator of the Township’s coronavirus response for first responders and is leading the Community Response Team volunteer initiative. 

For Garing, the job is a chance to continue doing what he loves.

 “I know it’s a little cliché, but I just have a genuine interest in doing the right thing for public safety,” he said. “I just want to provide the best service possible.”

Cranberry Today, Spring, 2020