- April 18, 2024
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Just a little over a year into Jason Wagner's career as a firefighter with the Palm Coast Fire Department, the wildfires of 1998 served as a catalyst for his immediate growth as a firefighter.
“I pumped the engine going from house to house, street to street, for almost 72 hours in a row,” Lt. Wagner said. “It was rewarding because we were saving homes, and we were evacuating people out, and we were protecting life and property. So, that was pretty impactful.”
This year is the 20th anniversary of the wildfires that burned down hundreds of homes — the worst natural disaster in Flagler County's history.
Currently, the department has 56 career firefighters, including three that were at Fire Station 23 on Thursday, June 21, for an 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. Friday, June 22, shift: EMT Lt. Jason Wagner; driver and firefighter-paramedic Robert Ballou, who has been with the department since 2008; and firefighter-EMT Chris Strozier, who is five months into his firefighting career after a 16-week training school with the department.
The Palm Coast Observer documented their day to showcase the bravery of first responders.
“It’s very nice. We know each other, so I know what he wants. It makes things go smooth. The majority of the time, I know the direction of what he wants me to accomplish.”
- Robert Ballou, firefighter-paramedic, on his partnership with Lt. Jason Wagner
“We go in on every call, and we have to basically prepare for the worst-case scenario, and hopefully it works out better.”
- Robert Ballou, firefighter-paramedic
“When I was younger — it’s kind of an ironic, funny, goofy story — I wanted to be a doctor and a truck driver. So, a firefighter is kind of like both; I play doctor in the field, even though I’m just an EMT. And I did drive the big, red truck at one time. But my uncle was a fireman at FDNY.”
- Jason Wagner, lieutenant firefighter-EMT
“You know what I take pride in? When you pull up to a scene and people have this worried, scared-to-death look on their face, and you can change that. Whether it’s like a car accident or a medical call, when you get there, and people see the truck pull up, you kind of see the sigh of relief that comes out of them. And a lot of times their frowns, or the worries, go away because we’re there now.”
- Jason Wagner, lieutenant firefighter-EMT
“Time is life with us.”
- Jason Wagner, lieutenant firefighter-EMT
