Firefighter Davy CalkinsEighteen new firefighters now serve at a fire station near you! Check back daily and get to know them.

Where are you stationed?
I'm at Station 13 (Metro Place) on the B shift.

Why did you want to pursue this career?
I love the feeling of working at a job where I know I can count on the person to my left or right, knowing in turn that they are counting on me, and that all of us together are doing something worthwhile. I think I'd sum it up as:
1) Being an important part of something, and...
2) Being a part of something important.

Why did you want to work in Madison, for the Madison Fire Department?
I studied at UW-Madison about 15 years ago and the idea of returning was always in the back of my head. The city just feels uniquely ‘Madison.’ I've lived other places that felt like they could have been put together on an assembly line somewhere. I appreciate being somewhere that feels distinct.

As for MFD itself, I was working in town and would occasionally interact with MFD firefighters or paramedics, and every time I came away thinking that that was a team I wanted to be working with.

Looking back at the Fire Academy, what was the most challenging element?
I was coming in with no fire experience at all, so it was a challenge to get up to speed with the rest of the recruits. I found I had to not be embarrassed to be the one to say, "Wait, can we go over that again?"

What advice would you give to someone hoping to join the MFD?
For the interview process? Know yourself well enough to be able to talk genuinely and fluently about your strengths. For the academy? Don't forget that enjoying yourself and taking something seriously are not mutually exclusive. Working hard is fun, especially when you're in it as a team.

What else would you like to share about yourself?
I grew up moving internationally for my father's job as a military liaison at the U.S. embassies overseas. We lived in Germany, Romania, Tunisia, and Ireland.

I had a radio show playing music in Austin, Texas. Literally tens of people would tune in to listen!

I also have two awesome kids, Hazel and Emmett, who make me as happy to head home as I am to head to work.

 

 

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Category: General, Station 13