Chief recalls challenges, camaraderie, department’s future

by Chris Studor

A recent Hinckley fire causing several million dollars in damage, firehouse culture and recommendations for the ongoing success of the township’s fire department were among the topics former Fire Chief Jestin Grossenbaugh recalled in the days following his Sept. 2 resignation.

“The mindset of a firefighter is service to the community,” said Grossenbaugh, who served 27 years with the fire department, including seven years as fire chief. “Firefighters believe they are called to sacrifice, to give back to the community and help people in need. These men and women pay for their training out of their own pockets. Many study 11 months to be a paramedic, which includes classes, clinical hours in hospitals and rides along with fire departments just to finish the program.”

Once the alarm sounds, those skills and mindset become paramount. Grossenbaugh said that when responding to a fire, firefighters not only have to consider what structure is on fire and the possibility of trapped occupants, but also the hazards that could be on the property or building, water resources and how much mutual aid will be needed.

For a young firefighter, Grossenbaugh said, it can be overwhelming.

“That’s when the more experienced firefighters step in beside them to teach what needs to be done and then afterward they will review [the job with them],” he said.

For an EMT or paramedic, the thought process is a little different, Grossenbaugh said.

“It’s a little bit more intimate because you are caring for someone’s loved one,” he said. “Overall, 75% of our calls are for EMS, and with a medical call, you’re talking about a family member’s life. It’s amazing with the advancements in training how that has improved the ability of the [EMT or paramedic] to keep a person stable until we reach the hospital.”

When thinking back on his time with the HFD, Grossenbaugh said a commercial fire at a building located off W. 130^th Street this summer might just be the most memorable fire he’s experienced in his career. Just to reach the building as quickly as possible, the department needed to cut through fences and call multiple departments for aide. He said the fire reached temperatures in excess of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit at the rooftop and it was so hot that it made the side wall of the building glow.

“I did not know at the time that it would be the last time I would be working with fire chiefs from Brunswick Hills Township and Brunswick city,” said Grossenbaugh. “Now, knowing that, I am so glad I had the chance to work with these two outstanding chiefs before I left.”

When it comes to EMS calls, Grossenbaugh says one of the most memorable involved an accident in which a car rolled over at least seven times. When safety personnel looked inside the car, which came to a rest upside down, they discovered the victim had a severe spinal cord injury.  

Hinckley firefighters were able to safely remove the patient from the crumbled vehicle and Life Flight responded to the scene. Grossenbaugh said the Life Flight crew was so impressed with the Hinckley firefighters’ actions they nominated the department for the prestigious Ohio Star Life Awards and the department was among several in the state to earn the top honors.

Later, Grossenbaugh recalled, he had a chance to meet with the family of the victim and discovered he had gone to high school with the victim’s wife, who thanked him for saving her husband’s life.

Though the memories with the Hinckley Fire Department are countless, what Grossenbaugh said he will miss most are the crews he worked alongside. He explained that firefighters spend approximately one-third of their lives in the firehouse and fire fighters come to know one another and each other’s families as if they were their own.

Grossenbaugh said firefighters strive to make a difference in the lives of those in the community as well as within the walls of the firehouse.

“I remember one year on my son, Colin’s, birthday, and all he wanted was to have cake and ice cream in the firehouse,” said Grossenbaugh. “Firefighters even took breaks from their other jobs to come in and be there in order to make Colin’s birthday wish come true. Colin really grew up in the firehouse and played all kinds of roles, from assisting where he could to playing Sparky the Fire Dog at special events.”

Following in his dad’s footsteps, Colin Grossenbaugh will soon be attending the Medina County Career Center’s firefighter program.

Behind the scenes of many of Hinckley’s fire department events is Grossenbaugh’s wife, Maddi. She is credited for being the driving force, talent and organizer behind everything from the annual fire department Touch-a-Truck and blood drives, to the annual gifts for senior citizens’ program, the Santa parade and other department activities. He said those events would never have been developed or become township tradition without Maddi Grossenbaugh’s work.

What he is most proud of as chief of the department is the fact that the department was able to advance from having just two full-time firefighters during the day, to two-member staffing around-the-clock, to three firefighters present at the firehouse 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just prior to his resignation, he was able to offer three of his firefighters the position of full-time firefighter/paramedic.

Having more full-time firefighters, Grossenbaugh said, will help stabilize the department by offering new recruits a workplace where they can build their careers. Over the years, many recruits have opted to leave the township after the department has already paid for their training and equipment in order to pursue full-time jobs elsewhere.

Another bonus of having several full-time firefighters/paramedics, Grossenbaugh, is that the township’s ISO (insurance rating) has improved, which could make lower home insurance rates available to township homeowners.

In looking toward the future, Grossenbaugh said for the Hinckley department to retain firefighters in leadership positions as well as firefighters and paramedics, “the township administration must treat the fire department with respect for their training and professional ability.”

“And when handed a task know that they are able to handle that task as it is their job they have trained for,” he said.

Grossenbaugh will be moving on to fire department leadership opportunities elsewhere. He said his phone has been flooded with well wishes and recollections of times at the Hinckley Township Fire Department.

“I want to thank all the dedicated staff I have spent years working with and also my family for understanding why I always had to be available for events,” said Grossenbaugh. “I had come to love the community of Hinckley and always will and wish the Hinckley firehouse success in the years to come.” ∞