COMMUNITY LEADER
STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT
Most of us never give much thought to the men and women of the fire department until we need them. We know they’re there, and we appreciate that fact—but we hope that they stay on the periphery of our lives and never become something that we actually have to call on. And as with all the people on the front lines, keeping us safe, they have a level of commitment and bravery that requires more than many of us are prepared to give. Every day, every call, is a test of that bravery and commitment; and they rise to the challenge without thought or hesitation.
For Fire Chief Chris Kaufmann, being a firefighter seemed to be his destiny. “I always thought I’d like the challenge of being a firefighter and that it would be a respected career that would give me the opportunity to help people, and that is something that is really important to me,” says Kaufmann, who has been in the fire service for more than 30 years and rose to the rank of fire chief just over seven years ago. 12
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