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'Chris' Robinson -- Nevada Fire Fighter of the Year
Nevada Daily Mail
For five years, John "Chris" Robinson has served communities as a firefighter -- as a volunteer in Lamar for three years and now in Nevada for two. At the end of 2014, he was honored for that dedication when he was named the firefighter of the year.
"It makes you feel good, because it's all done by nominations from our co-workers," Robinson said. "It was definitely good to know that everybody doesn't mind working with me as much as I thought."
Fire Chief Bill Thornton said some of the comments behind the nominations described Robinson's will to go the extra mile to get things done, his determination and desire to be successful and desire for continued education in the profession.
"Chris has only been with us a short while," Thornton said. "But during that time frame he continues to grow as a firefighter and a productive member of our department. He knows what this job entails and the daily issues associated with it and continues to work on the next answer or solution to achieve success."
"I just come in and do what I do," Robinson said, saying he takes few sick days throughout the year in order to serve. "I'm pretty dependable that way."
Born and raised in Florida, Robinson did not make it to Missouri until he was about 15 years old when his father got a job in the area. He then developed an interest in first response services.
"I wound up wanting to get involved in emergency services," Robinson said.
After completing the training needed to be an Emergency Medical Technician, Robinson then decided to go through the fire academy at Missouri Southern for a better opportunity at a full-time job.
About two years ago, Robinson began working for the Nevada Fire Department.
"There's a lot of neat stuff about Nevada," Robinson said of the town he and his wife and four children call home. "It's still small enough that it's more that smaller community like what I always grew up with, you know everybody around town ... but it's not so big that everything gets impersonal."
Robinson said he enjoys the excitement that comes with calls to the fire department.
"Anytime you get to go in and actually fight fires is always fun because that's what we're here for at the end of the day," Robinson says.
But Robinson also said they are fortunate that new technology and safety education has decreased the number of fires. However, the department frequently deals with other emergencies that are included in the almost 900 calls they received in 2014.
"That's the thing about fire service," Robinson said. "Pretty much anything that nobody else knows what to do with, they give to the fire service. So if you're not having a medical emergency and need an ambulance, and you're not having someone break the law and need a police officer, the fire department goes."
In just recent weeks, Robinson said someone brought a cat with its head stuck in a tin can to the fire department.
But Robinson said the hardest calls are often the vehicle accidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities, especially when a surviving loved one asks the firefighters about the victim.
"Anytime you have to deal with someone who has passed away... that's always rough," Robinson said.
But Robinson says he enjoys the opportunity to serve the community.
"It's definitely a privilege to be here. I enjoy the fire service, emergency services in general," Robinson said, saying he enjoys the EMS side of the job as well. "There's plenty of opportunity here so I'm going to take advantage of that while I can."