Whenever a fire alarm sounded, Kyle was immediately at the window, recalls his mother, Donna, owner of the Simply Country gift shop in Mendham. “Every toy had to have a siren on it.”

Kyle even talked his parents into visiting fire stations as far away as Kennebunkport, Maine, during summer vacations.

Kyle’s enthusiasm was contagious, prompting his kid sister, Kelly, to develop a similar childhood passion.

Unlike children who forget an early fondness for a profession, the Hastings siblings stayed true to their dreams.

Last year, those dreams became reality when Kyle, 26, and Kelly, 20, landed rookie jobs at two prestigious fire departments.

Kyle accepted a job as a fireman and paramedic in Landover Hills, Md., with the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, covering a territory about 10 miles from downtown Washington.

Kelly was hired as an emergency medical technician by the New York City Fire Department, for whom she works in the East New York section of Brooklyn.

“I was shocked,” Kelly said, after being selected to enter the FDNY’s Emergency Medical Service Academy from a pool of thousands of applicants. “Working for the FDNY was my dream.”

Although being a firefighter was her initial childhood attraction, “once I realized it was kind of a manly job, I got into the health side of it,” Kelly said.

During training with the FDNY, Kelly surprised a few of her classmates when she expressed the desire to be placed in Brooklyn — with full knowledge she would likely end up in one of the borough’s toughest neighborhoods.

“The people in my academy said, ‘Are you serious? You’re not gonna last out there.’ ”

But Kelly quickly proved any detractors wrong, and has thrived since hitting the streets of East New York last summer in a trademark FDNY red and white ambulance.

In fact, she can’t imagine a job she would enjoy more.

“I love everything about it,” she said. “I like the action, and seeing new faces everyday. The area has so much violence. It’s not uncommon to get some pretty gruesome calls.”

Along with a heavy load of legitimate emergencies, Kelly said she also deals with the problem of economically strapped individuals who try to misuse the ambulance as a free taxi service to doctors’ offices and hospitals.

However, her protocol is to err on the side of caution before refusing anyone an ambulance ride.

Kelly said she believes she brings a fresh perspective to the job, even if she does occasionally get razzed for being a “Jersey girl.”

“Some EMTs are burned out. I like to treat everyone really well.”

About four hours south, Kyle has celebrated his one-year anniversary with Fire/EMS Station 830 in Prince George’s County — and traded his probationary status for designation as a full-fledged firefighter while continuing to also serve as a paramedic.

Working at a fire department ranked as one of the 10 busiest in the nation, Kyle said he loves the nonstop action, with upward of 25 calls per shift.

“It’s 100 percent adrenaline from the time a call comes that there’s a fire working,” Kyle said. “I don’t see any other career where you get that much satisfaction and the feeling of helping people.”

It’s a dangerous job, reinforced just last month when two Prince George’s County firefighters at a neighboring station were severely burned while battling a Riverdale, Md., house fire that was subsequently ruled an arson.

“You want to be there. You want to help out. You want to make it a better outcome,” said Kyle, who was on ambulance duty at the time. “We all take it pretty seriously when a brother firefighter gets hurt.”

Although Kyle’s current position is his first paying job as a firefighter, he already had a wealth of experience as a volunteer firefighter with the Mendham Fire Department, which honored Kyle in February for a decade of service.

Starting as a junior volunteer at the age of 16, Kyle would regularly assist Mendham firefighters with establishing water supplies, operating hydrants, stretching hoses and throwing ground ladders.

Because he was too young to drive, Kyle needed help from his parents to respond to fire calls that would sometimes come in the middle of the night.

“I’d wake them up, and they’d drive me to the firehouse,” Kyle recalled.

Mendham Fire Chief Rich DeNicola, who himself began as a junior volunteer five years ahead of Kyle, considers Kyle an exemplary firefighter and comrade.

“He’s a very respected guy in the fire department, and a pleasure to have around,” DeNicola said.

After turning 18, and having legal clearance to enter a burning structure, Kyle also volunteered with the Humane Engine Company in Morristown, earning high marks from Capt. Jim Schultz of the Morristown Fire Bureau.

“He’s a model firefighter, a guy you would trust your back with,” said Schultz, whose own son — in testament to the close-knit nature of the fraternity of firefighters — works with Kyle as a volunteer firefighter in Prince Georges County. “I like the fact that he’s a friend of my son.”

While continuing to hone his skills as a volunteer firefighter, Kyle worked as an EMT and paramedic for several local emergency squads, and at the Somerset Medical Center, where Kelly was also employed before joining the FDNY.

In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Kyle traveled to the Gulf Coast to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, assisting with relief efforts that spanned from Biloxi, Miss., to Galveston, Texas.

“We went door to door with medical supplies and food, and helped set people up in trailers,” Kyle said.

Meantime, the bond between Kyle and Kelly grew even stronger, with Kelly eager to follow in her brother’s footsteps.

“He was the brother that picked on me the most growing up,” said Kelly, the lone girl and youngest of the four Hastings children. “But once I got to high school, we became super close.”

Kelly largely credits Kyle for motivating her to forgo the temptations of the Jersey Shore, and spend the summer following her junior year at West Morris Mendham High School taking an accelerated EMT course that allowed her to volunteer with the Mendham First Aid Squad as a senior.

“My friends would always joke that I was ‘the lifesaver,’ ” Kelly said. “When I volunteered, I loved it.”

Along with loving their jobs, the two have acclimated well to their new surroundings, with Kelly having already ditched her car for the subway, confining her driving to the ambulance.

Kyle and his wife, Kym — high school sweethearts who met in a cooking class at West Morris Mendham — are expecting their first child in April, after which, Kyle said, he wants to help Kym realize her goal of operating a day care center.

A career in firefighting and emergency services might not fit the typical career path for children raised in affluent Mendham, admits Kyle, whose brothers, Ryan, 29, and Tyler, 24, are investment bankers.

However, Kyle said that he and his sister have received nothing but support from their mother, Donna, and father, Peter Hastings, owner of P.B. Hastings Carpentry in Mendham.

His mother, in fact, said she believes that Kyle might have started a new family tradition.

“What drew Kelly to this career was seeing her brother loving it so much, and being very fulfilled,” Donna Hastings said. “When she graduated (from the FDNY training academy), it was a very proud day for my husband, myself and their siblings.”

Although the children have left home, Donna Hastings said that she and her husband still listen to the fire scanner. “But the volume is up a lot more when Kyle returns to Mendham,” she added.

Credit: Written by Dave Garey For NJ Press Media. Read this article on dailyrecord.com. Published March 18, 2012.

Unlike other types of fire apparatus, the IC vehicle is strictly a support unit. It provides the department with a quick responsible unit—allowing an officer to respond quickly to a call and begin incident assessment or size up as other members and equipment are responding. It also creates a centralized location at emergency scenes where officers and other leaders can gather to properly attack any situation. Finally, it is caries with it a full complement of radios, providing incident commanders with an easy way to communicate with our mutual-aid departments when responding and while on scene.

Thank You again for your continued support!

For additional information: New Jersey Emergency Vehicles, Manasquan, NJ

 

Willard “Bill” Bergman (pictured, above left) joined the Mendham Independent Hook & Ladder Company in May of 1952, Mendham Hose Company No. 1 in September 1952 and became exempt in 1959. Bill continues to serve as a Warden (fire police).

Joseph Grassi (pictured, above right) joined the Mendham Independent Hook & Ladder Company in June of 1952, Mendham Hose Company No. 1 in August 1952 and became exempt in 1959. When Joe isn’t at his home in Florida, he too continues to serve as a Warden.

Others honored were: Drew Gizzi and Joshua Small – 5 years of service; Thomas Gilligan, David Gizzi and Kyle Hastings – 10 years of service; Michael Orgera and Richard DeNicola – 15 years of service and Kenneth Betz – 35 years of service.

Ex-Chief Donald E. Smith “Smitty,” 81, died peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 at his home in Mendham. Born in Morristown, he lived in Morris Plains before moving to Mendham in 1947. Mr. Smith served in the Army from 1951-1953 during Korea. He was a member of the Mendham Borough Independent Hook and Ladder Company, and the Mendham Borough First Aid Rescue Squad. He was a Past Chief of the Fire Department and was a member of the NJ State Fire Chiefs Association. He also served as a Past Director of the First Aid Rescue Squad. He was an Auto Mechanic and had his own auto repair business in Morris Plains from 1961-1971. Then he worked for the Borough of Mendham for 24 years before retiring in 1995. Don enjoyed NASCAR, sports, boating and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene Cumback Smith of 61 years; two sons, Robert Smith (Susan) and Daniel Smith (Rachel) and three grandchildren, Shane(Hakyong), Brian and Robert. He is also survived by one sister, Joan Tufts.

The Family will hold a Private interment in Hilltop Cemetery. Arrangements were made by the Bailey Funeral Home of Mendham—www.baileyfuneralhomes.com.

Chief DeNicola takes over the position from Mike Bruin, who served as Chief in 2010 and 2011. Rich joined the Department in August of 1996 as a junior member and has served as President (2004-2005), Deputy Chief, 1st Assistant Chief, 2nd Assistant Chief as well as chairman of various committees prior to his promotion to Chief. To contact Rich, please click here.

About Mendham Fire Department

Mendham Borough Fire Department proudly protects 5,000 people living in an area of six square miles. We operate out of one station that protects a primarily residential area.

In 2011, The Mendham Fire Department responded to 267 emergency calls averaging about seven minutes response time per call, more than two minutes less than the national average for volunteer fire departments.

Thank You!

The votes are in, and we’re pleased to announce that the Mendham Independent Hook & Ladder Company was voted Best Fire Department in Morris County!

Thank you for your support and for your recognition with this prestigious award. For more than 106 years, the Mendham Borough Fire Department has provided the Morris County community with valuable fire prevention and emergency relief services. We’re proud to serve you, and thank you again for your support.

dailyrecord.com

Click here for the complete list of winners.

Help us reach our goal this year is to collect 75 pints of blood! The MJWC Blood drive directly collects blood for Morristown and Overlook Hospitals. This blood drive is great for first time blood donors and returning donors – home baked goods, a professional blood collection agency and great company all make this one of the most successful blood drives in our community.

The Thanksgiving holiday causes many of us to reflect on how many things we have to be grateful for. This year, in the spirit of being thankful, please give blood! You will be greatly thanked for it!

• Blood is needed somewhere every three seconds
• One out of three people will need donated blood in their lifetime
• One out of ten hospital patients needs a blood transfusion
• Walks-in welcome. Donors can also call 973-971-7444 or email mendhamjuniors@gmail.com to schedule an appointment time.

When: Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Where: Mendham Firehouse, 24 East Main Street Mendham NJ

For more information please visit: http://mjwc.org/.

About the Scholarship

The Mendham Fire Department is a non-profit organization that provides Fire and Rescue services to the Borough of Mendham. The Department was formed in 1905 and has operated as a total volunteer effort since its inception. Due to recent waning volunteerism, the Mendham Fire Department has recognized the need to recruit members to assist in the operations of the Department. The Department is seeking to award those individuals that have exhibited strong leadership qualities, those recognizing the need for volunteerism in society, those dedicated to teamwork and those dedicated to the pursuit of a higher education.

Junior Membership Program

For information about our Junior Membership program, please go here.

He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy; his grand-daughter, Tracy Leigh Ranucci Burrini and his son in law, Richard Morales. Survivors include one son, Earl G Barnes, III (Marianne); six daughters, Christine Day (Greg), Jacquelyn Burrini (John), Marianne Hubbert, Nancy Morales, Kimberly Swentkowski (Robert) and Susan Ireland (Cory). He is also survived his sister, Marilyn Young and his cherished 23 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3-9pm at St. Luke Parish, 265 West Mill Rd., Long Valley. Funeral Mass Thursday, 11am at St. Luke Parish. Interment Mendham Hilltop Cemetery. For those desiring, donations to the Mendham Boro Fire Dept. in his memory would be appreciated. Arrangements by the Bailey Funeral Home of Mendham. www.baileyfuneralhomes.com

Thank you for your support!

The officers and members of the Mendham Fire Department would like to tank everyone for making the 2011 Twelfth Night Celebration and Christmas Tree pick-up a success! Don’t forget to join us tonight—Sunday, January 8th at 6:30PM at the Borough Park for the ceremony.

Check back here in November 2012 for information about the 2013 Twelfth Night Celebration.

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