Crossfield Fire Cpt. Joe Holstein is retiring from the front lines after 40 years in service to the community.
He joined the paid-on-call department in 1982 at the age of 15. His brother was already a member and asked for his help going door to door handing out candy canes with the fire department.
Before he knew it, he was leaving math class to drive fire trucks.
“Of course that would never happen now, but back in the day that was kind of the norm — we’d leave high school to attend fire calls,” Holstein recalled. “I recruited a few buddies, there would be four of us that would respond to the hall and go on fire calls.”
He has some incredible stories from his 40 years of being a first responder, one of his favourites includes helping in Fort McMurray during the 2016 wildfires. He did a two week rotation helping save neighbourhoods from the blazes.
“It was so surreal, but [I was] so proud to be part of it,” Holstein said. “We met with departments from all over Alberta, we made a huge difference. But, on the other hand, very sad to see so many people lost their homes, the devastation up there was just unbelievable.”
He says the technology, training and equipment has all advanced significantly since he started his career, when all he had was rubber boots and a fire jacket.
But perhaps, more importantly, the more open discussion around how the job makes you feel.
Holstein was diagnosed with PTSD in 2014 and says the diagnosis saved his life.
He says he wishes he had known before what he knows now- but is grateful that sharing his story of struggling with mental illness has opened the door for others to get help. But, he wishes he could have provided that kind of help for a friend and colleague that he lost to suicide.
“If there was more talk about PTSD back then we could have got him some more help,” Holstein said.
However, he is proud to be able to help all his colleagues that have reached out to him to talk and take the first step.
Although he won’t be fighting any more fires, Holstein’s life of service continues.
He also works with the Town of Crossfield’s water department, and looks forward to helping his wife out with the local food hamper program.