REAL FIREFIGHTERS RIDE ENGINES!!!!

Hometown:

LANCASTER,OHIO

Years in Fire/EMS:

18

Why I Joined the Fire/EMS:

I HAVE BEEN AROUND IT SINCE 1978 WHEN MY DAD FIRST BECAME A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER. I SAW HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO HIM TO GET OUT AND HELP THOSE IN A TIME OF CRISIS. I WANT TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOT STEPS.

Relationship Status:

Single

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

FLOWOOD ,MS

Department Type:

Fire/Rescue Department - Paid

Rank/Role There:

Lieutenant, EMT - Basic, Driver / Engineer

Years With This Department/Agency

9

Second Department (if appl.)

PELAHATCHIE

2nd Department Type:

Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer, Combination Fire Rescue Department

Rank/Role at Second Department:

Fire / Arson Investigator, EMT - Basic, Hazardous Materials Team Member, Emergency Management Coordinator/Staff, Fire Buff / Fire Enthusiast, Other Emergency Services Staff

Years With Second Department/Agency

3

Other Past or Current Departments:

Mississippi Fire Academy
Monterey Vol. Fire Dept.

My Training:

FIRE INVESTIGATOR
FIRE INSPECTOR
HAZ-MAT TECH I - II
ROPE RESCUE TECH I - II
DRIVER OPERATOR
FIRE INSTRUCTOR
FIRE GROUND LEADERSHIP
INVESTIGATIVE METHODS OF FIRE RELATED DEATHS
CONFINE SPACE RESCUE
FIRE OFFICER I -II
BOMB AND EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION
FIRE DEPARTMENT SAFETY OFFICER
HALE PUMP REBUILDING
JUVENILE FIRE SETTERS PROGRAM
N.R.E.M.T.-B
PASSENGER TRAIN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
NAFI MEMBER
STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE TECH - L.S.U
WMD TACTICAL COMMANDER COURSE -L.S.U.
WMD CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT
WMD HAZMAT EVIDENCE COLLECTION COURSE
MEMBER MS. FF ASSOC.
ICS-100
ICS-200
ICS-300
ICS-400
ICS-700
ICS-800

About Me:

I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE FIRE SERVICE SINCE 1978 WHEN MY DAD BECAME A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER. MY BROTHERS WERE ALSO MEMBERS WHEN THEY BECAME OLD ENOUGH TO JOIN. I ENJOYED GOING ON CALLS WITH THEM AND WHEN I GOT OLD ENOUGH TO JOIN I DID ALSO. I WAS A VOLUNTEER UNTIL JAN. 2000 AND BECAME FULL TIME AT FLOWOOD FIRE.

I'm an Associate Instructor at the Mississippi Fire Academy. I work Hand-in Hand with the full time Instructors to provide training for the fire service in the state. I have enjoyed teaching the classes because I learn just as much from the different departments as they learn from the class they are taken. It's a great way to network with the whole state.

IN AUG. 2006, I became the Emergency Service Director for the town. My office provides fire safety, fire prevention programs. I do all fire inspections within the city limits. I do everything that deals with the fire department for the town.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

The two top issues that the first responders are facing is: 1) The lack of proper training for volunteer departments. Most volunteers can not take off their jobs to attend classes. They need night classes that they can attend and I know if you put the training out there that the volunteers are hungry for it.

2) To many Line of Duty Deaths!!! Lets face it guy's, we are killing ourselves!! No one to blame!! The last time I looked at the number this year was 108. That's 108 to many!!!! We need to take better care of ourselves and look out for our Brothers and Sisters.. We need to get into better shape to do our job and do it in the proper way!!!!

I Love Being in Fire/EMS Because:

I know that I'm helping someone and that is going to make a difference in their life..