Canton fire department restructure marked with pinning ceremony

Feb. 2—CANTON — Not quite a year ago, Kevin Wheeler was promoted to lead the Canton Fire Department. In that time he's reorganized the department, purchased new uniforms, redesigned the departmental logo and, on Thursday, hosted the first-ever formal promotion ceremony.

The meeting room in the temporary town hall consisting of modulars was packed with families and well-wishers as Wheeler introduced every member of the department, described their position and spoke of the many values he believes each bring to the team. He especially thanked all the family members.

"This is your support group," he told those assembled at the meeting. "You all are what keeps us sane when we have those bad nights, those bad calls. We couldn't do this without our families."

Among those recognized during the ceremony was Jessy Hill, the first-ever female firefighter for the town, said Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers. While Smathers said Hill will ultimately be "judged by success as a firefighter," the historic moment for women deserved mentioning.

"I don't want to throw around the word 'history,' but henceforth, little girls will see you, and for the first time in their schools, they will see someone who looks like them. That will plant the seed not that they can be a firefighter, but that they can be anything," Smathers said.

He said his first memory of Chief Wheeler dated back to youth when he remembers him dressed up as an oversized Dalmatian at North Canton Elementary School.

"Never underestimate how you influence the lives of kids. You never know the difference you may make," Smathers said.

Wheeler gave a brief overview of all that has happened since he assumed the helm of the department.

"I set a goal for myself when I took over, and that is on the day I retire, I want the department to be better than the day I was hired," Wheeler said.

That is already starting to happen. Thanks to employee certifications, the department now provides EMT-level care, and the team has been able to "shave a couple seconds off each time they go out," he said.

Firefighters are wearing uniforms as opposed to T-shirts so that a professional look will accompany the professionalism that's part of the ongoing improvements.

Wheeler joined the Canton Fire Department in 1993 as a volunteer, and was hired full-time the following year. He said the department was operating with a 1970s operarational structure that offered no place for advancement.

Now, instead of simply firefighters and shift officers, there is a variety of positions and training opportunities where employees can continue to improve.

Meet the team

Here is the new department breakdown as introduced by Wheeler.

The department's assistant chief is William Poole, who started his fire-fighting career in 1987 as a volunteer at age 18, and has had extensive experience in fire fighting and emergency management, including a stint as the assistant EMS director for Haywood County.

Mark Pace was promoted to a captain position, something his 36 years of experience with the department, 10 as a volunteer, will help in the job.

"You can't learn what Mark knows from a book," Wheeler said.

David Pressley started his career as a firefighter with Clyde following the 2004 flooding. He has worked with several fire departments in the county, most recently with Canton, and is now the department's lieutenant.

"He wanted to be part of what he saw happening and wanted to serve the community," Wheeler said.

The department's engineers — those who maintain the trucks, equipment and supply inventory needed for fires, hazardous chemical spills or medical calls — are now Linton Wheeler and Bryson Larkin. Wheeler joined the department in 1987 as a junior firefighter, worked there until 1990, and returned to Canton where he was hired full-time in 2009.

Larkin started with the department part-time in 2018 and became a full-time employee the following year.

The department's senior firefighters are Shane Travis Webb and Christopher Greene, while the firefighters, the newest members of the team, include Nathan Dollinger, Tyler Shipman, Jessy Hill and Travis Ledford.

Rising to the occasion

Over the past year, the department fielded 1,350 calls, which us up from 895 in 2021. Of those, 71% or 956 were medical calls. Canton firefighters fought eight structure fires in the town limits, cut three people out of wrecked vehicles and put out one vehicle fire.

The Canton board members praised the department members for their will to serve and the work they do.

"I could never do what you do," said vice-chairwoman Gail Mull. "I don't like to be cold. I don't like to be wet and I'm a scaredy cat. We appreciate you all."

Alderman Ralph Hamlett, said the words "thank you" sometimes sounds empty, but stressed they were coming from the heart.

"We are thanking you for your courage, for waiting for that call you hope will not come in," he said. "We thank you families for your courage for saying goodbye and trusting that it is all going to turn out well. So thank you.'

Alderman Tim Shepard told the firefighters they made a choice to serve others.

"Not everybody does that," he said. "That makes firefighters and police officers heroes because you choose to do that."

Smathers made a promise to the department members — that they will be getting a new headquarters that is out of the flood plain.

Three times in the past 17 years, the Canton Fire Department has been working to save its own equipment from harm's way when the Pigeon River left its banks.

"You are getting a new home," Smathers said. "This board is moving that fire station out of the flood zone," he said. "Once and for all, we are ending that so we won't have to be tending to our own fires and waters when we need to be out there helping others."