Rock Community firefighter gives back

Name: Mike Shafferkoetter

Job: Firefighter, Rock Community Fire Protection District

How did you get your job?

I’ve been a firefighter for 16 years. I was in the military during Desert Storm, and the support I received from my community during Desert Storm I wanted to give back. So I started volunteering with the fire department when I returned home to Union.

I’ve been with Rock Community for 5.5 years. I was looking for stability and the guys I knew here never wanted to go anywhere else. 

What do you like best about your job?

It takes a special kind of person to want to do what we do. Whether it’s kicking in a door or going on an EMS call, the satisfaction of saving a life or putting in a smoke detector, I can’t see myself ever wanting to do anything else.

What do you like least?

The only drawback I can see with the deployment and having to say goodbye to my family. It’s not like a vacation where you going to be gone and you have weeks or months to get ready for that. Not knowing how long you’re going to be gone or the situation you’re going to get into. It’s just like when we get a call, and you might be gone for two hours. Now I get a call and I might have to be gone for two weeks.