Community Corner

Firefighter of the Month: Steve Downs

Steve Downs has been named Doylestown Patch's Firefighter of the Month for October.

 

Name: Stephen C. Downs

Age: 59 (but looks much younger)

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Hometown: Lancaster, Ohio

High school: Lancaster High School 

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College: Ohio University (BS, Zoology); LaSalle University (MA, Education)

Family: Wife Carol (35 Years) Sons: Michael (deceased), Evan 29, Kyle – a firefighter, too – 27, Elizabeth 25, Riley 22

Fire Company: Doylestown Fire Co. #1

Years volunteering: Since 2009

What really made you want to be a firefighter?

Two things led me to firefighting. First, I’d traveled internationally for 25 years in business. After retiring from industry to enter education, I realized someone had been keeping my family safe all of that time, and the someones were the people of the police and fire services right here in Doylestown. To be able to give back, now that I’m available, seemed like the right thing to do. Second, my son Kyle was already a firefighter with DFC#1 and asked me to join him and the great people that are DFC#1. I haven’t looked back. 

Tell one story you'll never forget about your firefighting experience.

Recently, we had a call for a fire alarm at a senior citizens’ apartment building. The call came in at about 1:30 in the morning (of course) during the work week. Alarms often amount to nothing and, I must admit, I laid there in bed for a moment before getting up. But there’s some understanding the people of our company instill in you that says, “What if this one is someone’s life at risk?” And so you go, and so we went.

We searched five floors in minutes and found the source apartment with a gentleman unresponsive to our calls lying in his living room. With dignity and gentleness, the man was lifted out of his home, his physical well-being restored and the source of the smoke that might have resulted in a disaster was addressed.

Yes, I’ve been in on much bigger fires and wrecks, following the direction and example of the more experienced people I’m so honored to work with. But at that moment I realized, with greater clarity, the value of our vigilance and commitment every day (and night).

What do you most want people in the community to know about the work?

The rewards come when you know that, if even in some small way you helped save a person’s life. Next to being a father, firefighting with the people of DFC#1 is the coolest thing I’ve ever done (and I’ve done some pretty cool stuff over my almost 60 years). 

There aren’t enough of us and we need a few more of the good people of our community to join in a great endeavor that just gets better and better. It’s not easy but it’s incredibly rewarding.

 


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