Watching his whole neighborhood go up in flames during the Gray Fire in 2023 cemented Kaleb Vinson’s desire to become a firefighter. He was officially sworn in as a volunteer firefighter with the Airway Heights Fire Department last month after completing his training.
Vinson grew up in a family where both parents served in the military. They moved to the area when he was 2, settling in Medical Lake. When he graduated from high school, he wasn’t sure what to do. He enrolled in the Fire Science program at Spokane Community College, but said he felt “wishy washy” about it and wasn’t sure if he wanted to make it his career.
“I know a lot of firefighters around here,” he said. “They kind of talked me into trying it.”
By the summer of 2023 he had finished his first year of the program. Despite his hesitation, he planned to finish the program before deciding if that was what he wanted to do.
On August 18 Vinson left his mother’s house and went to his job as a mechanic at Fairchild Air Force Base. He recalls going outside that afternoon and looking back toward Medical Lake. “I saw a giant plume of smoke,” he said.
He called his mother, who confirmed that she and his younger sister were evacuating because of flames coming close to their home. “I hopped on my motorcycle and headed back to Medical Lake,” he said.
His mother had only minutes to evacuate and was able to grab the family dogs, but not the cats. Vinson was hoping to rescue them. “I got to my street and it was just red,” he said. “The whole street was just red.”
He then went to his father’s house, also in Medical Lake but across town, and turned on the sprinklers. Then he joined his mother and sister. “We literally had nothing,” he said. “All I had was what was in my backpack that I took to work.”
Once the fire died down, they visited their home. It was still standing, mostly. One corner had burned so completely that the floor had collapsed, but other areas of the house were less damaged. The home next door was only slightly damaged, but every other house on the street was gone.
The family was able to save some sentimental items before the house, a total loss, was torn down. Even now Vinson said he can still smell smoke on those items despite trying to clean them.
By the time Vinson went back to SCC that fall, he was focused on becoming a firefighter. “When I came back I was completely locked in,” he said. “It realigned me and reminded me this was something I want to do.”
A family friend introduced him to Airway Heights Fire Chief Mitch Metzger, who sold him on the idea of being a volunteer in his department, Vinson said. “It just seemed like a great place to learn,” he said.
As a volunteer, Vinson works a minimum of one shift every eight days. Weekday shifts are 12 hours long, while weekend shifts run for 24 hours. He began working volunteer shifts last February.
Vinson said new recruits usually attend a Fire Academy, but his Fire Science degree from SCC was accepted as a replacement. But he still had to complete a task book, proving that he could do everything from CPR to a home search to deploying a ladder. Vinson said he finished his task book a while ago, but his official swearing in ceremony wasn’t held until last month.
“I’m really enjoying it,” he said. “All the guys there are great.”
Vinson has since gone back to school using his mother’s Chapter 35 benefits from the Veteran’s Administration, similar to benefits under the GI Bill. His tuition at Eastern Washington University is paid while he earns a degree in communications and he receives a monthly stipend. He was able to quit work to focus on school and his volunteer shifts.
Vinson said his ultimate goal is to become a full-time, paid firefighter, a path that often starts with work as a volunteer.
Medical Lake Resident Kaleb Vinson who lost his family home in the Gray Road
Fire went back to school earning his Fire Science degree from SCC and was
sworn in as a volunteer fire fighter for the Airway Heights Fire Department last month.
Would you recommend the SCC Fire Science program to people interested in exploring being a firefighter? If so, why?
I would definitely recommend the SCC Fire Science program to anybody interested in the fire service. All of the staff there are super knowledgeable and do a great job of taking the time to ensure everyone in the program is gaining as much knowledge as possible. The Fire Science Program has also created some of my most important friendships. Everyone in the class were great people and we all became super close during our second year in the program.
What do you think is the most important thing you learned, either in the fire science program or in your time at the Airway Heights Fire Department?
I think the most important thing I learned at Airway Heights Fire Department is that it’s ok to make mistakes, and everyday is a new learning opportunity. I’m kind of a perfectionist and when I started at AHFD I was stressed about making mistakes in front of the more experienced firefighters there. They all made sure to let me know that it’s ok to make mistakes and every mistake is just an opportunity to learn. That piece of advice has been extremely helpful to me and allowed me to grow a lot as a firefighter.
What do you like best about being a volunteer firefighter?
What I like best about being a volunteer firefighter is being able to make a difference in the community that I grew up in. I remember being a kid and seeing the Airway Heights fire trucks heading to calls and just being star struck. Now that I’m the one in the truck, it’s funny to see other little kids staring at the trucks as we head to calls. I can’t help but smile every time.
What has been your most memorable call since you started volunteering?
I don’t think I really have a most memorable call since I started volunteering. The calls that mean the most to me are the ones where I get to help older people. The older population is definitely forgotten about sometimes and I take great pride in being able to help them with anything they might need.
Do you have plans to complete EMT or paramedic training?
I actually completed my EMT training through the Fire Science program. I have considered paramedic training in the future but I’m not certain about it yet.
