W.Va. Firefighters Discuss Being 'Bitten by the Bug'

Dec. 18--Bob Brookover has missed many family moments, including birthday parties and holiday celebrations, during his 41 years as a volunteer firefighter.

But he feels he has an obligation to his community -- and his fellow firefighters.

"After a while, you take [missing those family moments] in stride. You hope you don't get called out during those things, but when you do, you just go," said Brookover, who has been chief of the Blacksville Volunteer Fire Department since 1993.

"I've missed calls, but when you do, you feel you missed your obligation. And you worry about the other people in the department."

Tim Provaznik, supervisor of the fire department servic- es division for the state fire marshal's office, said about 10,366 people volunteer for 411 fire departments statewide. They respond to fires and other emergencies as needed, and many -- like Brookover -- do so while juggling families and full-time jobs.

"Once you get in there, it gets in your blood," said Brookover, who is 59 and has four adult children. "It's addictive."

Brookover joined the Blacksville VFD at the urging of other members in 1970, shortly after he graduated from high school and began working in the coal mines.

He now drives a truck for Chisler Brothers Inc., hauling rigs for Marcellus shale gas wells and other projects. He said his boss is understanding when late-night calls for the Blacksville VFD make him late for work.

Brookover said he advises his firefighters to put family first.

"Those kids, I tell them, one day you're going to turn around, and they'll be all grown up," Brookover said. "A lot of those things you can't replace."

'Bit by the bug'

Brian Hagedorn literally grew up at the Brookhaven VFD, where his cousins, uncle and grandparents also volunteer. He joined in 2000, at the age of 12, but wasn't allowed to ride along on fire calls until he turned 16.

"You get bit by the bug," said Hagedorn, who enjoys having the opportunity "to do some good. It's an adrenaline rush."

Now 23, Hagedorn works the night shift at CONSOL Energy's Robinson Run mine. He doesn't typically respond to calls after 7 p.m., but said he is often called out before and after work, leaving him little time for sleep.

Hagedorn met his wife, who works for Monongalia EMS, while responding to a car accident. She volunteers for Brookhaven, too, and they have a baby on the way.

"That's harder than juggling work, making sure we still have our time, especially now that we're starting a family," Hagedorn said. "There's nights that I turn my pager off and devote my time to her."

Hagedorn plans to turn his pager off more frequently once his child is born. "I've got to be a dad first," he said.

'A close-knit group'

Fighting fires is also a family affair for Justin Knotts, a 21-year-old lieutenant for the Star City VFD. His dad is a volunteer firefighter in Kingwood, and his mother worked as an EMT.

Knotts began volunteering as a junior firefighter in Reedsville at the age of 16. He also volunteered in Kingwood before joining the fire department in Star City last year.

Knotts works as an EMT in Kingwood, where he stays Friday through Monday. He spends the remainder of the week in Monongalia County, where he stays with his girlfriend and volunteers for Star City.

"I used to work EMS down here, and I liked the people," said Knotts, who enjoys the camaraderie among the volunteers. "I went on vacation this year with [no one] but Star City firefighters. It's a really closeknit group of people."

Traveling back and forth was challenging at first, but Knotts said it's gotten easier over time. His girlfriend often accompanies him on fire calls.

'It's like a family'

Brianna Hardinger is a 22-year-old nursing student at Fairmont State University who also works full time as a paramedic. She began volunteering as a Star City firefighter in Ja nu a r y, three or four months after joining Star City EMS.

"It's not always easy, but I like

doing it, so I make time for it," Hardinger said. "I love being out in the community and helping out. And being at the firehouse is fun. It's like a family."

Hardinger doesn't respond to fire calls when she has to get up early for school. And she said her fire department family is always willing to help out with school and personal matters.

'Gets your heart racing'

Virginia native Allie Smith volunteered as an EMT at home before she began attending WVU as a parks and recreation major. She missed the adrenaline rush, however, and joined the Star City VFD as a volunteer firefighter in the fall of 2010.

"Something gets your heart racing," Smith said. "I look forward to doing this."

Smith got involved in emergency services after friends back home asked her to participate in an event. But it's not easy to do while going to school full time.

"I have school basically from 7 [a.m.] to 5 [p.m.] Monday through Thursday. Evenings and weekends I spend here," Smith said.

'No other feeling'

Star City Fire Chief John Huber began his career as a volunteer firefighter in Baltimore, after he and his younger brother -- a professional firefighter in Maryland -- became interested in fighting fires at a young age.

Huber volunteered for 14 years in Baltimore, while raising two daughters, before joining the Star City VFD 11 years ago.

"It's like a high," he said. "It's an adrenaline thing. There is no other feeling than helping somebody. When you help somebody in EMS and you know you were able to save somebody's life, it ch a n g e s your life. It's the same as a firefighter. ... What greater deed can you do than give back to your fellow man?"

Huber is a paid paramedic for Star City EMS, for which he also serves as deputy director, and works full time as a nurse at Ruby Memorial Hospital. He is also enrolled full time in WVU's nurse practitioner program.

"I have to be doing something," Huber said. "I was bored the year I took off between finishing my bachelor's program and getting into the nurse practitioner program."

Helping people in need

Chris Nestor, 28, was interested in volunteering as a firefighter in college, but he had little time and no permanent residence. He began volunteering for the Clinton District VFD two years ago, after he and his wife settled in the area.

"It's a tough responsibility, as far as helping out at the house and doing this," Nestor said. "I can't go on every call, but she understands that we have a responsibility to help people in need."

Nestor has a 13-monthold daughter and plans to continue to volunteer as she gets older.

"She's got several dads here. They'll help out, as well," he said. "I hope to show her there's an opportunity out there to do something good for people in need."

Nestor works for Monongalia County and said latenight calls sometimes keep him out until early morning. His wife is a social member of the department and assists with events.

Love at first call

Ashley Shuttlesworth, 24, began volunteering with the Triune-Halleck VFD at the age of 11, after family members urged her to take a training class. Her father and brother are both firefighters, and her mother is a social member.

"My first class was CPR and first aid, and I really enjoyed it," Shuttlesworth said. "And then after my first call, I was hooked."

Shuttlesworth's involvement in EMS through the fire department got her interested in nursing, and she now works as a neonatal ICU nurse at Ruby Memorial Hospital.

"You really just prioritize," Shuttlesworth said, of juggling work and her volunteer responsibilities. "If I'm on call or working, I just can't do it."

As EMS captain, Shuttlesworth sometimes takes paperwork home with her, too. "Otherwise, you just go when you can," she said.

PAGE 6-A Departments depend on volunteers, funds. Mon County volunteer fire departments.

Bob Gay/The Dominion Post file photo illustration A volunteer firefighter sprays water onto the burning cab of a tractor-trailer on Interstate 68, in June 2011.

John Huber