Crime & Safety

Three New Firefighters Join Stow's Department

A federal grant awarded to the city will pay for five new firefighters for two years. Three have been hired so far.

Three new men willing to jump into a burning building and risk their lives for those in Stow joined the Stow Fire Department Monday thanks to a federal grant.

Rep. Steven LaRoutette (R-Bainbridge Township) that Stow will receive $743,741 from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program to pay for five new firefighters for the next two years. Firefighter Jeff Cochran wrote the grant for the city in 2010.

After the two years expires, the city will evaluate whether it can keep the new employees on staff.

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On Monday, Shane Ballou, Nick Hoffman and Tom Phillips reported to for their first day on the job and joined 43 current full-time firefighters.

"I like the family-style of work here," said Ballou, who comes to Stow with seven years of part-time experience in Streetsboro and Ravenna Township. "It’s like a whole different part of your family — you have your home family and your fire department family."

Find out what's happening in Stowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Phillips, who previously worked for the East Cleveland department, said because he and his family live in here, the idea of having a second family in Stow was appealing.

"I've lived here for six or seven years now, I'm happy to be working in the town I live in," he said.

Hoffman, 32, said he was glad to join Stow's department because he hopes it's somewhere he could retire from someday. He previously worked at the Uniontown Fire Department.

Hoffman was inspired to become a firefighter and is glad to continue his work in Stow because, to put it simply, he likes helping people.

"People don’t have to call us on good days, we’re their saving grace," said Hoffman. "Having that ability to do that in some cases is overwhelming — but it makes you want to do it again and again. I joke all the time with patients, 'it was nice meeting you, but I hope I never have to see you again.'"

Two more people will join these three new hires and the rest of the Stow Fire Department family soon, said Fire Capt. Mike Stone. Chief Bill Kalbaugh said he expects to make some offers in about a week.

"These are highly competitive and very useful grant programs,” LaTourette said.  “Stow will have safe staffing levels. The program is used so departments have adequate staffing levels to protect their communities."

To find out who the two other new firefighters are after they are hired, check back with Stow Patch.


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