HOPE — Clarence Keller is the fire chief and municipal Emergency Management Agency director for the town of Hope. Keller also volunteers for Union Ambulance and works an occasional shift for Northeast Ambulance. He will celebrate his 27th anniversary as the fire chief in September 2015.

Keller’s full-time weekly job is at Rankin’s Hardware and Building Supply in Camden. He is a native of Palermo and lives in Hope. He joined the Hope Fire Department in 1983 when he was a senior in high school.

- Why did you want to become a first responder?

God gave me the gift of compassion, which is my motivation. Also, as a kid growing up in the 1970s, I was a big fan of the television show, Emergency, which I found very exciting. The show portrayed specially trained firefighters who were part of a then-innovative field known as paramedics.

I had the pleasure of meeting one of the show’s stars, Randolph Mantooth, who played firefighter/paramedic John Gage, at a convention and I still have his autographed photo on my office wall.

- How do you juggle working full-time at Rankin’s and being a first responder?

I have Thursdays off, which allows me the time to work on administrative responsibilities at the fire station. But, most importantly, I am able to respond to calls during the day because of  the incredible support of my employers, Frank Rankin and his daughter, Lisa Burgess. They both understand the importance of first responders.

- What was one of your most notable calls?

My most difficult call was a triple fatal accident on Barnestown Road in 2010 that killed three young people, ages 14, 17 and 21. It was a horrific accident and I still vividly remember my emotions when I put a 14-year-old girl in a body bag.

- What are the current challenges facing firefighters, since many area fire departments are struggling with recruiting volunteers?

The training requirements and safety regulations for firefighters have changed over the years. It requires a lot more time now to be a firefighter and that is difficult for volunteers who work full time and have family responsibilities.

- What do you think is special about the Hope Fire Department?

I am very proud of the team we have in Hope. We consistently support the fire department’s mission and part of that statement is to “lessen the loss of life and property.” Many of the surrounding structure fires could all have been much worse but they were not because of the dedicated team and also the support of our mutual aid partners.

- Do you volunteer in the community besides being a firefighter?

Yes, I volunteer as an EMT for Union Ambulance.

- Why is it important for a community to have a strong fire department?

- It is an “insurance policy.” The fire department is the “catch-all” of emergency services. They solve many issues and always have to adapt to what life situations are presented to the fire department. There are not any absolutes with being a firefighter. You hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

- What is your advice to attract and recruit more firefighters?

I think the Junior Firefighter program should be enhanced as a county-wide effort. We need to attract kids early on and get firefighting in their blood. Area departments need to work collectively on this critical issue of the dwindling number of first responders.

The Emergency Service Challenge (at the Camden Snow Bowl) on May 23 is a great example of a collaborative initiative that was began to raise awareness about first responders in the community. All of the departments involved would like to gain some new volunteers from this event.

I found this quote in a magazine awhile back and it sums up one of the purposes for the Run for Your Life Challenge and the importance of recruitment: “The future of fire service is tied directly to our efforts and inaction is not an option.”

- Do you have any closing thoughts?

I am thankful for the support of the taxpayers and residents of Hope for their fire department. We are fortunate to have our firefighting apparatus up-to-date and have such a nice fire station that also includes space for training classes.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com