Teen makes his mark in fire department

Aug. 4—CANTON — Center Pigeon Volunteer Fire Department has a unique volunteer who has already made an impact in the department, even though he is just 15.

After flooding hit Haywood hard in August 2021, Nathan Cronin the actions of volunteer firefighters and they helped his family when their home flooded made an impact.

"I wanted wanted to serve the community more after our basement was flooded in August," Cronin said.

Looking into possibilities with the fire department was a logical first step. Cronin's fascination with fire trucks dates back to childhood, and Johnny Pless, the chief of the Center Pigeon Fire Department is a family friend and recalls young Nathan coming to church in a firefighters outfit.

So when Cronin wanted to learn more about volunteering, Pless was the go-to person.

Luckily, the Center Pigeon Fire Department has a cadet program where youth age 14 and 15 can volunteer; a junior program for 16 and 17 year-olds and a constant need for more adult volunteers.

Jim Clontz, a captain with the department, said the program was aimed at attracting younger volunteers.

"Across the board, volunteers have declined," he said. "The number of training hours required has grown, and the generations have changed. We don't have the first generation that was here when the department was founded, and each new generation seems to not want to donate as much time as the previous generation."

The cadet and junior programs aimed at those still in school is viewed as a way to spark interest in firefighting early on, Clontz said.

"The earlier they start, the more likely they are to stick with it. That's what we're trying to do, and we're actively recruiting for cadets, junior and volunteers as a whole," he added.

Needless to say, Clontz and others within the department were delighted when Cronin came along and take every opportunity to share their years of experiences with the eager learner.

Youth volunteers aren't eligible to go out on fire calls until they are 16, but there are plenty of other duties where their help is invaluable.

For instance, the department had nine vehicles that need to be washed, and Cronin spends about five hours each Monday on that task and more.

"When we washes the truck, he does not want help," Clontz said. "We back up a truck, and when he's done, we back him out another truck and then he does another one."

There are check off lists to make sure each vehicle has the proper gear, special event assists where firefighters and volunteers help with traffic control, getting gear ready and more.

Cronin was the first cadet to sign up as a volunteer, and spent most of the time washing the trucks each week. There are nine of them, and sometimes we washed them all. Monday was his volunteer day, and he estimates he spent about five hours helping out as much as he could, all the while soaking in the knowledge firefighters must learn through both specialized training and experience.

Through his time volunteering, he's learned to recognize the service call codes that come in through the radio at the department and what sort of vehicles will be needed on the call.

"One day, a call came in that a guy had backed over his wife," said firefighter Jake Davis. "When I pulled in Nathan had my turn out gear in the truck, the lights turned on, and the door open. He can't go on fire calls, but he knows what we need for them."

As for Cronin, the big day in his firefighter training happens on Dec. 29, when he will turn 16. That means he will be able to go along on fire calls.

Ambitious teen

In addition to volunteering with Center Pigeon, Cronin has his own lawn mowing business. He started out mowing lawns and weed eating for neighbors at age 12, and once others saw what a good job he was doing, his business grew.

Even though he isn't old enough to drive, he already has a truck, a 2005 Chevy Avalanche with a V-8 engine so it can pull the trailer with his lawn equipment.

"I mow 12-14 yards and was able to buy a truck," Cronin said. " I bought my own equipment — a zero-turn first, then a trailer. I have six weed eaters and all the attachments, blowers, everything. When you save up your money, you get big toys."

Because he doesn't have a driver's license yet, his father, a retired disabled veteran, takes him to various jobs.

"I pay him $10-$20 just to cover gas and he will help me push mow outside of a fence," Cronin said. "My younger brother, whose 13, helps a lot too."When asked whether there were any problems being the boss of a brother, Cronin was mater of fact.

"He knows if he won't work, he doesn't get paid," he explained.

Cronin, who is home-schooled and goes to a home-school co-op during the school months, is also a member of the Southern Appalachian Cloggers, something he learned from him mom and continued because he loves dancing. He also volunteers with the Haywood County Veterans Honor Guard.

He keeps careful track of his volunteer hours.

"Since I've started, I've got 904 hours in," said Cronin, who said the hours were cumulative between all three of his community service activities.

There is little doubt in Cronin's mind about what career path he will pursue. He wants to be a firefighter. If he stays on at Center Pigeon, he will have to be 21 before that can happen.

"By the time Nathan turns 21, he'll have it all," Clontz said, explaining the diverse training a firefighter needs in this day and age.

In addition to learning to fight fires and drive the vehicles, there is scuba training, search and rescue knowledge to be assimilated and even medical training opportunities.

"Everybody doesn't have to fight fire," Clontz said. "People don't understand that now fire departments run medical calls — everything from a stubbed toe to a heart attack. We have a swift water rescue, a dive team, are set up for woodland fires, vehicle extrication, search and rescue along with the original role of fighting home fires. We have a broad spectrum of calls. Medical calls are 80% of what we do."