Crystal City Fire Department is no longer all-volunteer.
Crystal City Administrator Jason Eisenbeis said the City Council approved hiring its first full-time firefighter as part of this year’s budget.
Corey Nengel was chosen to fill the newly created position.
Nengel, 26, of Crystal City, has firefighting in his blood. He is a fourth-generation firefighter, following in the bootsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He started volunteering with the Crystal City Fire Department as a junior firefighter when he was just 16.
But even before then, Nengel was no stranger to the firehouse. Before becoming a junior firefighter, he volunteered to act as a victim at training scenarios when his father, who now works at the Herculaneum Fire Department, was working at the Antonia Fire Protection District.
“That kind of got me into it, and then I would assist them with their other trainings. It took off from there,” Nengel said.
Nengel graduated from Seckman Senior High School in 2018 and shortly after earned state certifications for Firefighter 1 and 2 and Hazmat Operations and Awareness. He is also a licensed EMT.
Nengel started his first full-time firefighting position in February 2019 with the City of De Soto Fire Department. In December 2023, he left De Soto to join the Herculaneum Fire Department.
Nengel said he’s excited to now be coming back home to Crystal City.
“I feel like it’s a reward. It’s definitely a great move for the city. We’re moving forward.”
Eisenbeis said Nengel started on April 6 and his schedule will be from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
He said Nengel will be paid $48,500 annually plus $3,500 per year for on-call work.
Eisenbeis said the rest of the Crystal City Fire Department is made up of volunteers who are paid $21 per call. He said the fire chief, assistant chief and three captains all receive small monthly stipends.
Eisenbeis said the city may eventually hire more full-time firefighters.
“It would make sense to add additional firefighters as the community grows and James Hardie opens. Ultimately, that will be up to the mayor and City Council, but one firefighter is all we can afford right now.”
Nengel said he’s most excited to interact with the public, especially for events such as Shop With a Cop and Fire Prevention Week.
“I like being out in the public and helping other people in their time of need,” he said.