Rock Community Fire Protection District’s new public education specialist is not new to the firefighting business.
Stephanie Jackson, 31, of Hillsboro joined Rock Fire in late May, replacing Ron Harder, who left Rock Fire in November 2020 after 13 years with the district.
Jackson previously worked for the Hillsboro Fire Protection District for six years.
“This aspect (public education) of the fire service is my passion,” said Jackson, who also will serve as Rock Fire’s public information officer. “I was surprised when I got into the fire service the different avenues that you can take. You get into it thinking you are going to be a firefighter on the truck, but as you get into the service, you can become an inspector, investigator, or work in fire prevention and teach.
“There are so many different ways to help people. That was my No. 1 driving factor to get into the fire service.”
Rock Fire Chief Jeff Broombaugh said he’s confident Jackson will help those who live in the fire district, which covers Arnold, Kimmswick and parts of Imperial and Barnhart. It has five houses, including two in Arnold, two in the Arnold area and one in Imperial.
Broombaugh said Jackson was selected from 12 candidates who applied for the position and will be paid $62,000 a year.
“She has a passion to teach that set her above other candidates,” Broombaugh said. “During her (interview) presentation, you could tell she did a lot of research and put a lot of time into it. Plus, with the era we are in now with social media, her background in marketing helped. She will be able to get our message out and hit the points we want, while getting people’s attention.”
Becoming a firefighter
Jackson, a Dexter native, didn’t intend to become a firefighter after graduating from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“To do anything in psychology, you need at least a master’s degree, she said. “I thought I would do some jobs here and there and then get my master’s.”
Jackson and a business partner started a marketing business, and she worked as an administrative assistant at Jefferson College.
She also became a volunteer firefighter at Hillsboro Fire in 2016, and the following year, the district hired her as a full-time firefighter and emergency medical technician.
“I fell in love with the fire service,” Jackson said.
At Hillsboro Fire, Jackson handled public relations and taught the district’s fire prevention and education programs.
She said it was not easy leaving Hillsboro, where she is still a volunteer firefighter, but she is excited about promoting safety education at a larger district.
“Ultimately, this position is the aspect I love most about my job. I go out in the schools and community. I build relationships, and I teach people about emergency preparedness and fire prevention,” she said. “ My predecessor (Harder) did an amazing job setting up this position and making the connections in this community. (Rock Fire has) a legacy of having an amazing fire prevention program. I wanted to be part of that and contribute to that.”
Moving forward
Broombaugh said Jackson will shape Rock Fire’s school and community programs in her own image.
He also said he’s excited to see the department resume its educational programs after having to cut back or stop school visits because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jackson said joining Rock Fire she has run a lot of CPR classes for employees at daycares and schools who needed to get recertification.
She said she got a taste of teaching children at summer schools and other summer youth programs but is looking forward to getting back into schools on a more regular basis.
“I’m really excited that everything is opening up, and we can be active in the schools and go to events in the community,” Jackson said.
Jackson said she is researching Rock Fire’s call history to determine if the department is repeatedly getting calls in the same areas. If so, she said she would help formulate a program to reduce emergencies in those areas.
“If we are running a log of kitchen fires to one area, we may need to figure out a way to reach out to that population and offer safe cooking classes,” Jackson said. “I would rather make contact with families to teach them before something bad happens.”
Jackson said when she’s out in the community people often ask if Rock Fire will be getting another fire dog.
When Harder retired from Rock Fire, so did his fire dog, Madison.
“At this time, we will not have a fire dog, but that is not out of the question for the future,” Jackson said.
“I already have two large dogs, and I don’t know if I can handle a third dog.”