Kevin Janes wants the community to know that age is not the determining factor in becoming a firefighter. At age 47, he is a full decade older than others in his class at the Falcon Firefighters Rookie Academy.”We balance each others’ strengths,” Janes said, referring to the differences between him and the young men in the academy. “They have the strength, speed, agility and fearlessness required to save lives, whether as a first responder at an accident or running into a burning building. I can’t compete with a 22-year-old physically, but I have life experience and with that comes a certain level of maturity, credibility and empathy that can be advantageous when dealing with crisis situations. What we all have in common is the passion to serve the community.”It’s not that Janes didn’t face the same rigorous physical requirements. “It was like being in boot camp again, but I was happy that I could do it,” he said. The Firefighters Academy holds training two nights a week and every other Saturday for a period of about eight months. Although Janes will be a volunteer firefighter, the training requirements are exactly the same as paid firefighters. “It is a big commitment, but it’s worth it,” he said.Janes will graduate along with nine other classmates Oct. 19, trading his yellow trainee shirt for the official firefighter’s blue shirt.He had no previous emergency-response training before joining the academy. “My military career was spent mostly in staff positions and logistics,” he said. “I came to the academy barebones, and the personal satisfaction I get from the training I’m receiving and the support from the other guys is just incredible.”After serving 25 years in the U.S. Army, Janes recently retired and is currently working full time at Peterson Air Force Base as a government contractor. Susan, his wife of 25 years, is a homemaker. They have six children, ranging from age 15 to 24.Throughout Janes’ military career, his family has lived in eight different states. He was deployed to Saudi Arabia, Korea and Central and South America.Three years ago, Janes had an opportunity with the Army to move his family to Colorado. The move brought them closer to their families in Utah and Colorado had great post-military job prospects, he said. But most of all, Janes said the move gave him a sense of stability and home. “I never had the opportunity to really get involved in a community,” he said.And now he is involved, through the Falcon Fire Protection District, “I wasn’t looking for another career,” he said. “I just want to give back to the community that has become our home.”His desire to give back via the fire department was prompted by a persona experience. Several years ago, he was living in New Jersey when his father had a stroke in Utah. Thanks to the first responders, his father lived for an additional 11 days, enough time for Janes to fly back and visit with his father before he died. “I will always be grateful to them,” Janes said. He said someday he hopes he can give someone else that same opportunity.Janes said he is looking forward to becoming part of the firefighting team. He talked passionately about his admiration for what he called the “band of brothers,” who truly take care of one another. It’s a level of commitment that requires sacrifices.”It doesn’t matter if you are paid career or volunteer,” Janes said. “We all must depend on each other – our lives literally depend on it.”
