Donaldson: Junior Firefighter

All four Junior Firemen sitting on a firetruck at Donaldson Fire Company.

Ethan Hindman, Staffer

In Donaldson Fire Company (DFC), firefighters are all volunteer. These men and women dedicate hours to their community not only with helping with emergencies, but also helping with community events.

When I became a DFC junior firefighter I was eager to join. Part of the Company’s junior firemen requirements are: 12 hours of volunteering a month for two years and attending community events as well as your grades can’t be below 70. Below a 70 means that you can’t go on any emergency calls. If you’re as eager as I am, those grades are up.

There are ups and downs in being a junior firefighter. But it is a fun adventure going on calls and saving lives and knowing that you’re the person that is on the call that is there to help those in need of emergency services. There is one quote I like to say before every fire call to myself, “First one in last one out.” I still remember my first fire call with Donaldson. The call was a trash fire up on Tremont Mountain. We showed up and automatically I knew what to grab what to put out the fire with and everything and I can still hear Pat Kimmel saying, “Atta boy Dutch. Atta a boy!” I knew then that’s where I belong with Donaldson Fire Company. Every call since then is encouraging me to be a great firefighter.

I’m amazed by how many people are willing to do so much for one person at the firehouse. Like outside the firehouse we do more than sit at home. We participate in parades and conventions too. It’s fun taking a break from fire calls and sitting down with your friends and talk about long past fire stories. Over the summer, we used to have campfires at the chief’s house and at my good friend Patrick’s house. Patrick is the person I look up to. He is the best firefighter I know. I am always by his side at a fire scene. I watch what he does so I can become a great firefighter like him one day.

All I can say is being a junior firefighter is pretty awesome. You are always working on something no matter what it is and that’s what I like to do. I just don’t want to stay at home and do nothing we have fundraising like the chicken bbq. I love going and participating in events like those or the Chinese Auction. All I can say is I love doing what I love and that’s being a hero and a helper of my community and putting a smile on someone’s face.