Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Firefighting runs in the family for Warsaw Fire Department's two newest recruits.
Brooks Huffer's dad served as a volunteer for the city fire department for 33 years, and Jeff Puckett's uncle is chief of the Winona Lake Fire Department.
Warsaw Fire Chief Ken Shepherd said he is excited by the fact that both Huffer and Puckett served as volunteers prior to being hired Aug. 9 as full-time firefighters/drivers, and "I feel we deserve someone who's experienced."
Both Huffer and Puckett are certified as first- and second-class firefighters and are members of Squad 70, the county's fire investigation team. The department requires second-class certification before hiring and volunteers are expected to take training courses on a regular basis. The two men are considered probationary firefighters for one year and will be elevated to firefighters/drivers at the end of that period. During their probationary time, the men learn to run all the different trucks, as well as the day-to-day tasks of a firefighter.
Huffer, 35, was a volunteer for 8-1/2 years and has tried for two years to be hired into the department. Shepherd credits Huffer's persistence in earning one of the two available spots. "He never gave up," Shepherd said.
Prior to joining the fire department, Huffer worked 16 years at R.R. Donnelley & Sons. A Warsaw Community High School graduate, he and his wife, Tena, reside in Warsaw with their sons Tyler, 9, and Cameron and Derek, 6.
Puckett, 33, served 2-1/2 years as a Warsaw volunteer and also put time in at Winona Lake. He served eight years with the U.S. Army and earned a GED. He previously worked for Swoverland Construction.
Puckett and his wife, Michelle, have three sons: Zachary, 16; Joshua, 15; and Bryce, 9. They reside in Warsaw.
Sheperd said that criteria for consideration in hiring includes having a high school education, being at least 21 years old, having no felony record and holding a second-class firefighter certification. Candidates then must pass an agility test, mental test, physical and lie detector test.
Both Huffer and Puckett were tested in 1997 and have been awaiting an opening at the department. Shepherd said that new hires don't come along very often because the firefighters tend to stick with the job until retirement. The only way to be considered for hiring is if someone retires or quits, Shepherd said.
Huffer and Puckett replace firefighters Dan Rife and Mike Wilson. Rife retired earlier this year, and Wilson was promoted to inspector upon the retirement of Pete Gatke.
The department has 26 full-time firefighters and 15 volunteers.
