Steve Cooper, 43, always wanted to be a volunteer firefighter but didn’t feel he could fully commit due to his busy schedule. When his 16-year-old daughter said she wanted to join Craley Fire Company as a junior firefighter, he fully supported her and considered joining with her. However, she wanted to experience it by herself first. After six months and speaking with some officers, who said they could always use more volunteers, Steve joined in March 2024 as a firefighter.
As a sales manager at Coulson Technologies LLC, a father, and participating in two golf leagues, Steve says the most challenging part is the time commitment to volunteering and balancing that with his job.
Photo by Kristina Latchaw, 2024
“I like giving back to the community and feeling like I am making a difference,” said Steve. “In the very beginning, I wanted to go on every call. I overcome this by making sure there is time for the family as well and putting limits on myself to avoid burnout.”
Steve encourages anyone who is considering joining Craley Fire Company to give it a try.
“We could always use more volunteers and you don’t have to make every call,” he said.
Craley encourages its volunteers to attend training every other Wednesday at the fire company. Volunteer firefighters, like Steve, respond to a variety of calls, including structure or residential fires, vehicle accidents, and more. Junior firefighters, ages 14 to 17, perform exterior groundwork at fire calls such as running hoses, laddering buildings, and grabbing tools. There are also volunteer EMTs, fire police and social members.
To learn more if volunteering is right for you, explore our website or fill out an inquiry form here.