New firefighter Tanner Thompson is honored to serve Childress County.
Tanner Thompson is a new firefighter at the Childress Fire Department.
“It’s an honor to be able to work here and to be able to serve the community,” he said. “I feel like that’s an amazing thing to be able to do.”
Having grown up in a law enforcement family, the 20-year-old knew he wanted to be a first responder. Instead of college, Tanner chose fire school.
“You can help people in their worst times,” explained Tanner, who was raised to run to danger. His father thought Tanner becoming a firefighter was awesome.
“He wanted me to go the fire and EMS route instead of going the law enforcement route because of the way today’s world is,” said Tanner, who has found another supporter, Childress Fire Chief Ralph Freeman.
“Tanner is amazing,” Ralph said. “I think he’ll be good for the community.”
In fact, the Chief said he couldn’t ask for a better hire. “He (Tanner) always wants to make sure it’s right,” Ralph said. “Tanner is always willing to learn if he has a question.”
Since Tanner lives in his hometown of Quanah, his shifts of two days on and four days off work great, he said.
But Tanner’s presence will help more than just the residents of Childress County. It will also help his fellow firefighters.
“It will cut their hours down,” he said. “It’ll help give everybody an opportunity to have more family time at home. It will be great.”
