Brian Martin grew up knowing he wanted to be a firefighter.
“I was brought up around it,” Martin said. “My grandfather (Denver Phelps) was the chief of the Ogden Royal (Fire Department).”
Amelia Martin, Brian’s wife, had no idea she’d live a life of service.
“I was just looking for a job,” Amelia said.
Now a METCAD dispatcher, Amelia knows that a life full of service with the one she loves is the life for her.
“There’s just something inside that you want to fulfill to help people when it’s their worst day,” she said. “The different people you talk to and help on their worst day, it’s great to know that you did help.”
As a young boy, Brian was fascinated by the fire trucks and the work his grandfather did, but today, being a firefighter has taken on another meaning.
“I got older and learned to appreciate helping people,” he said. “Nobody calls 911 when they are having fun; it’s always at the worst time of their lives, and you’re called to go fix it. There is something very gratifying when you’re able to go do that.”
On Monday, the St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District named Brian Martin its 2018 Russell Chism Firefighter of the Year.
Firefighter of the Year nominees are selected by the station’s chiefs, then voted on by the station’s association. The St. Joseph-Stanton Department relies on volunteers to respond to emergencies.
Brian was selected for his focus on training in 2018, helping to ensure that the station’s newest members were getting the best training that they could, troubleshooting equipment problems and working on maintenance projects.
With 15 years of experience, including a decade in the St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Department, Brian said he just wants to bring his experience and knowledge to the station every day.
But Brian said being part of the department has always been a team effort: both at the station and at home.
Brian said his close-knit group of friends who grew up in the Royal and Flatville area made their homes in the St. Joseph area and are also on the Stanton Fire Department.
“When all of my friends and I, who are on the fire department, were younger, we used to just hang out up here all the time. We’d take the rolling chairs to the front of the engines with the doors open, and just talk for hours.”
“Now we are all grown, married and have kids and jobs,” he said. “But we still put in as much time as we can. If you get a minute, you stop by to help.
“We’re basically just a big family. We’re not just firefighters together, we’re also friends outside this, too. All of us are.”
Being part of that close-knit group brings an added level of focus to each call.
Both Brian, who manages Mid-State Excavating, and Amelia feel this when they are responding to an emergency.
“Because of her working there, I know a lot of people there; one of our (firefighters) works there,” Brian said. “There’s is something to be said about hearing a familiar voice on the other end of the radio, when you’re going to a bad call.
“There’s just something comforting about knowing who is on the other end of that radio giving you the information and helping get that job done.”
Amelia said that while the METCAD dispatchers cannot control what happens in the field, they are going to do whatever they can do keep the first responders safe.
“They are the real MVPs,” Brian said.
“They help people without the luxury of being able to look at them or put their hands on them. They are just talking to them on the phone, giving them CPR instruction if someone is choking.”
When Amelia is working and an emergency call comes through from the St. Joseph-Stanton area, she wants to be on the other line.
“There’s just something about hearing his voice and knowing that he’s okay,” Amelia said.
Since getting together six years ago, Brian and Amelia have not spent a day apart.
Amelia was immediately interested in Brian when she first met him nearly eight years ago while visiting Arrow Ambulance, where Brian worked at the time.
“I saw him, and I asked my friend, ‘Who is that guy? He’s hot,” Amelia recalled.
Nothing came of it until two years later when Amelia reached out to Brian via social media.
“We met, hung out and never spent a day apart,” she said.
Being public servants, the Martins also have to sacrifice their time together for the betterment of the community.
“It gets hard though because we don’t have a lot of time together,” Amelia said. “Our schedules don’t match up.
“I work the night and he works days. My days off are during the week. We get two days off together, really and sometimes when we are doing something or even nothing, and the pager goes off, it’s hard.”
“If I’m home and available, I always come,” Brian said. “I don’t pick and choose calls. Someone who slipped, fell down and needs help up is just as important as someone who was in a bad car wreck.”
Brian said without Amelia’s support and sacrifice he would not be able to put in the time that he does at the department.
“I know I wouldn’t be able to do or put in the time that I’m able to without her,” he said. “She lets me.”
“We’re a public service household,” Brian said.
