Fighting Fire With Friends: Local Man Discovers Camaraderie at Fire Department

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"MAN IS BY NATURE a social animal," the philosopher John Locke wrote. Wandekha Kanthula would agree. It's one reason he joined the Arlington County Fire Department.

Kanthula, 27, grew up in Springfield, Va., and majored in criminal justice at Old Dominion University; he wanted to go into federal law enforcement. Becoming a firefighter or police officer seemed like "a quick way to get into the real world," though, so he applied in several jurisdictions while looking into which would be the best fit.

Talking with police and firefighters showed that among Arlington County and Fairfax County police, "you're on your own in a cruiser with little interaction," he notes. "An engine company has a four-man crew, so it's important to be on the same page. Police have camaraderie, but I didn't see the same bond."

In Arlington, fire recruits must first pass written and agility tests, the latter "geared to things a firefighter needs to do," says Capt. Matt Herbert, county program manager for fire and EMS training: "carry 50 pounds on the StairMaster without holding the rail, pull a heavy hose, simulate pulling down a ceiling, crawl through a mini-maze." An employment offer is contingent on passing a thorough physical, a psychological exam and an interview with the fire chief.

Kanthula temped for six months while taking and passing the initial tests for the Fairfax police force and the Arlington police and fire departments. With his parents' enthusiastic support, the young hopeful started at Arlington County's fire academy in July 2006.

It's a "fast-track" 24 weeks, Kanthula says, during which students study and train full time while being paid $45,000 a year. They become certified emergency medical technicians and learn fire response — in both cases hitting the books, then practicing in increasingly realistic situations.

"Recruit school" covers everything from vehicle extraction and hazardous materials to Metrorail tunnels and county roads. (There's currently a hiring freeze, but for information, visit Arlingtonva.us under "employment" or call the hiring center at 703-228-3500.) Kanthula's class used Loudoun County's facility for a "live burn" and D.C.'s for a flashover simulation.

Graduation meant swapping red trainee headgear for a black helmet with his name on it. The classmates took an oath with family present and received station and shift assignments.

But training wasn't over. Kanthula and his cohort began 56-hour weeks as fire trainees where "their sole job is to learn, like an apprentice," says Herbert. The other three members of each station's crew coach their trainee for the big test a year ahead, which covers both knowledge and skills. Though few pass on the first try, they must pass by the second or lose their job.

Even without calls to a fire or rescue, firefighters drill, do physical training, check all rigs and equipment, get meals for the crew, and either coach a newbie or study. "This career used to be called 'blue collar,'" Herbert says, "but with the rise of terrorism, it's requiring more and more education."

With Arlington's Station 2, Kanthula's first fire was late at night. A charcoal grill too close to a house caught the siding on fire. "We gained control within minutes," he says. "My anxiety level came down — I hadn't known what to expect, because it's a controlled environment at the academy and you know all the rooms" in the simulation.

His most intense experience was a 2 a.m. head-on crash on Interstate 66. In one car, the driver was wearing a seat belt; the passengers weren't. "It was the scariest thing," Kanthula says. "There was blood everywhere, and the passengers were barely breathing." He pulled one out, took vital signs and hooked her up to a monitor, then drove the ambulance to the hospital.

Kanthula's role was over once they arrived at the hospital. He cleaned the gurney, reorganized the ambulance and caught a ride back to the station.

Is he a hero in these situations? "I never really think of myself that way," he says. "A lot of calls turn out to be nothing, but we have to run every call as if it's serious, because you never know." Still, it's gratifying to hear "thank you" every day and to see kids wave at the trucks.

Kanthula still aims to investigate fires, which will require more study. "It would be stupid not to take an opportunity to move around in the department and use my education from college," he says. He's got a backer for the eventual promotion: the head of the academy. Says Herbert: "He's a hard worker, a quick learner and will go far in this department."

Written by Express contributor Ellen Ryan
Photos by Regan Kireilis for Express