Elizabeth "Betsy" Power got an exceptional birthday present this year; son Zach Otto graduated from Tidewater Regional Fire Academy (TRFA) Class #119.
Zach and 25 classmates completed the training to become Firefighters and graduated on June 11th 2008, Betsy's 48th birthday. Knowing how difficult the training is, at seeing him accept his helmet from Hampton Fire Chief James Gray she felt a great sense of pride, and something else any mother can relate to-he was, of course, the most handsome.
A 2006 Phoebus High School graduate, Zach worked in construction for C. H. Exterior Trim of Hampton prior to being hired by Hampton Fire & Rescue in February of this year. He attributes his interest in the fire service to his mom, Hampton Medic Firefighter Betsy Power, now an 8 year veteran of the department.
Of her, he says, "the whole family dynamic changed once she became a firefighter, positive changes." He describes her as always having been a very social person who would talk to anyone, but says she became even more so, after becoming a Firefighter.
A single-parent of three, Betsy credits the support of Zach's father, her ex-husband, and that of her mother who moved from New York to assist in caring for the children at that time, to much of her success. Until then she hadn't been aware that she lived well below the poverty level; she enjoyed her job as a grounds person and bus driver with Gloria Dei Lutheran School. And though her salary more than doubled after coming to the fire department, being at Gloria Dei Lutheran during that time put her in a good place when her kids were younger.
What attracted Betsy to the fire service was her desire to help others and that's where being very approachable comes in especially handy. Zach readily agrees that just knowing people see you as someone they can call on in times of need is a great feeling. More than anything, it's rewarding-very satisfying.
Betsy volunteered with Buckroe Volunteer Fire Company in Hampton for approximately a year prior to being accepted into Virginia Beach's nighttime TRFA academy. She applied for a career position all over Tidewater after completing TRFA Class #75 and was picked up by Hampton Fire & Rescue within a month of graduating.
Throughout the hiring process, Betsy and Zach kept mum about their relationship. Not that it was all deliberate; there were the different last names, so no speculation immediately resulted. But when asked about it she says, she was confident in his ability to make it on his own merit, so she saw no need to mention it.
As for him, he didn't want there to be any hint of favoritism; this way, no one would have cause to doubt his qualifications. When he asked questions during his training, Zach got the full "mom" treatment; Betsy politely pointed him in the direction of the reference books he needed to research the required information.
Asked about the challenges he faced during TRFA training, Zach says that even though he was confident in his ability to pass the final class and State testing, the hours between taking the tests and getting verification that he had passed were literally torturous. Besides that, his only problem was being a bit more talkative than instructors might have liked.
Unlike Zach, his sisters, ages 22 and 17, don't worry about their mom's safety when she's on the job. He knows that she will take the necessary precautions to remain safe, but still gets on edge at times as he listens to calls on the scanner. Even so, he looks forward to building lasting relationships throughout the brotherhood that he has come into, and even to being the green horn at his first station assignment.
Zach is already planning his career path; he hopes to become a Paramedic and participate on the Division's Dive Team. He and Betsy dote equally on each other and like mother, like son, they both look forward to long and fulfilling careers with Hampton Fire & Rescue. They understand that helping others and revving up when the bells ring keeps you engaged and ready for anything the day may bring.
