Published on Monday, December 25, 2006
in the Leesburg Daily Commercial

First responders find time to celebrate Christmas

While many people are enjoying Christmas dinner and opening presents today, first-responders are keeping us safe, all the while catching as much of the spirit as they can.

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Thompson said he can't remember the last time he had Christmas, New Year's or Thanksgiving off.

Thompson, a trooper for seven years, two in Lake County, has a 4-year-old daughter who he can't talk about without smiling.

"She knows Daddy has to work all the time," he said. "It's a necessary evil."

Thompson doesn't get any extra pay for working on a holiday, but he does get eight hours of comp time. Determining who works on holidays comes down to seniority, Thompson said.

"I don't mind working the holiday," he said.

Working on a holiday can be slow at times, Thompson said.

"The volume is usually less, but if you work a crash, it is usually a bad crash."

Thompson said a lot of his day is usually service calls, such as people running out of gas or flat tires.

Emergency personnel often can fit in a little more celebrating, depending on which department they work for.

In Clermont, firefighters don't think of working Christmas Day as very different from celebrating at home - except they are always on call and ready to go, no matter what they are doing or planning on doing.

According to Paramedic Kathie Vance, there will be eight firefighters (including herself), plus their captain, Daryl Hyatt, on duty Christmas Day.

Vance said that since they have to work, the group will get treated to a traditional holiday dinner at the station.

She said Hyatt takes care of the feast for them.

"We cook a whole dinner like everyone else, except for at the station," said Hyatt, who has been in Clermont for nine years.

Hyatt says they cook, eat, open presents and enjoy with their families, who are invited to dinner at the station as well.

"We can't go home, so they come to us," said Hyatt. "And if we get a call, we'll go do what we have to do and finish dinner later when we get back.

"The only difference is that our meal may be a little cold, but we're used to that," he said.

Vance said having to work the holiday is no big deal, as firefighters are more than just average co-workers. She said they are all very close and are good friends, so having to spend the holiday together is not a bad thing.

"Yeah, we're all family," said Firefighter EMT Tom Bennet. "That's just how it feels."