Firefighter Ryan Hartsell named “Firefighter of the Month” for August

This August the St. Marys Fire Department is pleased to announce Ryan Hartsell as its “Firefighter of the Month”.

Hartsell joined the St. Marys Fire Department as a firefighter in 2020. Although relatively new in the trade he has demonstrated the ability to learn quickly as he completed his Firefighter Initial Training Program (FITP) well under the predetermined two-year time frame.

"Firefighter Ryan Hartsell was selected as Firefighter of the Month as he displays an ability to learn rapidly and adapt quickly to changing situations,” said Fire Chief Richard “Andy” Anderson. “He continually strives to strengthen and refine professional effectiveness through education. Ryan is one of six members of the department’s swift water/ice rescue Go Team. This combined with the experience he gains through training and on the fire ground will make him an effective leader."

Fire emergencies make up a small fraction of the calls fire departments respond to. “When that call comes in, you could have a vehicle accident on the highway that has littered debris you need to clear, or you could have hazardous materials to handle — you never know what that call is going to bring,” Hartsell said.

“Hartsell is a firefighter who can be counted on to achieve results during emergency situations,” said Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Edwards.

When asked how he became interested in becoming a firefighter, he stated, “I have always been interested in the emergency services, out of high school I furthered my education to become a paramedic. After moving to St Marys from Woodstock in 2018, I was able to make some friendships with some of the individuals on the fire department. That is when I realized the amount of comradery they had amongst the group, that along with the satisfaction of being able to help the community of St. Marys is what I owe my drive to become a firefighter.”

With the long hours and high-pressure situations, it doesn’t take long for a firefighting team to form tight bonds. When you become part of the fire department, those people become an extension of your family. “If someone is getting married or having a kid — typically when something is going on with the life of a firefighter — the rest of the fire department gets involved,” Hartsell said. “These friendships last a lifetime.”

“Some advice I would give to someone looking to join the department is that the fire service is continuously evolving as there are so many advancements in technology as well as avenues an individual can take to have a rewarding career in fire service” said Hartsell. “I suggest anyone new to firefighting should take as many extra courses as possible to increase their knowledge and experience with the vast array of calls that we encounter. The amount of information available is never ending and that’s what makes it the best decision I ever made to have a lifelong rewarding career.”

Off duty, Hartsell dedicates his time to his lovely wife Alex and their newborn son Haynes.  Ryan is employed at Federal White Cement as a Central Control Room Operator Trained employee.

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Contact:

Richard “Andy” Anderson, Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief
519-284-2340, ext. 201 | randerson@town.stmarys.on.ca