After 34 years of service as a volunteer firefighter, Benwood Volunteer Fire Department's Paula Smith is the new president of the West Virginia State Firemen's Association.

Smith, who resides in McMechen, was voted in as the association's president during its annual convention in Vienna, W.Va.

"I've been a volunteer firefighter for 34 years and involved with the state firemen's association for 34 years," said Smith, who began her quest as a volunteer firefighter by helping her aunt, who was an EMT, in 1975.

"I started at the old fire station beside the police department," Smith said.

She said her aunt was in need of a driver, so she obtained her driver's license and trained with the Benwood VFD. She began driving for her aunt around that time.

Smith said she has been on "many, many" committees with the state association and the local department over the past 34 years.

"It's rewarding to know that we go out there and help people when needed ... ," she said. "Not only in emergencies ... but we go out and help people through bad weather, when it snows and they can't get to the drugstore to get their medicine."

Smith said there are very few women who belong to the association, and members would like to see more women get involved. She noted there are about 430 VFDs in the Mountain State, 280 of which are member's of the State Firemen's Association.

Smith said her involvement with the association has involved traveling to other VFDs around the state. She said she is up to the challenge of continuing her role as the president of the association.

"Our goal is to get people involved," she added.

Smith said the association has a number of activities already scheduled for the month of January, including attending the State of the State Address in Charleston on Jan. 13 and a reception with legislators on Jan. 26.

The association has a list of accomplishments and goals as well as its mission statement posted on its Web site. For more information on the West Virginia Firemen's Association, visit www.wvsfa.com.