Neighborhood Spotlight: Jahelka says volunteering ‘is just about the perfect job’

For Chris Jahelka, volunteer firefighting is the just about the perfect job, filled with equal parts excitement and community service.

“It’s a pretty rewarding choice. I get to hang out with like-minded people, and continue to do things to help out the community,” he said.

Jahelka, who has been a volunteer with Aquashicola for about 12 years, said that his fascination with firefighting began at a young age, when he would get a glimpse of the trucks at the station.

“We used to live in New York City, and we’d stop by the fire station when I was little and look at the firetrucks. I just kind of grew up in that mindset, that it would be neat to be a fireman,” he said.

And while the prospect of running into a burning building tends to terrify most people, Jahelka credits his training and the trust he shares with his fellow firefighters with keeping a level head in a potentially dangerous situation.

“I think a lot of that fear is taken out by training. You learn to get rid of the fear. Most times, you kind of know what you’re getting involved in, you trust the other people that you’re with, that they also know what they’re doing. It’s not typically scary, but it depends on the instance,” he said.

In fact, when it comes to danger, that’s just one of Jahelka’s favorite parts of responding to a call, though he appreciates the camaraderie and brotherhood, too.

“It’s probably not the right answer, but the excitement, the adrenaline rush. I look forward to figuring it out, solving the problem. To me, it’s just fun to show up, hang out with the guys. It’s a hobby, something to do,” he said.

Jahelka said that working with the volunteers at Aquashicola is an honor and a privilege, as the service members dedicate their lives to their communities, passing down a rich lifetime of lessons to the younger crew.

“A lot of the members started here when they were younger than me, and now they’re in their upper 60s, 70s, and they pass down all their knowledge and their skills that they’ve learned. They give life lessons. They can walk into a situation, no matter how bad it is, and be calm,” he said.

Outside of volunteer firefighting, Jahelka keeps a jam-packed schedule, and of course, it’s ripe with adrenaline-pumping activities.

“I own a sheet metal factory, Vic’s Time. I have all sorts of hobbies — SCUBA diving, skiing and snowboarding. I work part-time at the ski area, and I work part time for my father-in-law at George’s Plumbing and Heating, too,” he said.

When he gets some free time, he loves to spend it with Nicole, his wife, and their sons, Ben, 7, and Matt, 5, who are showing some interest in firefighting themselves.

“They love to be active, hiking, biking, going for walks and runs. They’re pretty young, but they love to come here. They always want to climb on the trucks and look at firetrucks wherever they go. They’re definitely interested in it,” Jahelka said.

“They’re a little more knowledgeable than I was at their age. They can tell you about more stuff on the truck than most people can.”

As for his future with the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company, Jahelka said that he can see himself pitching in for quite a while. Chances are, he’ll be there to offer some life lessons to Ben and Matt, if and when they decide to join.

“If it’s anything like the other guys around here, I envision a lifelong commitment. It’s kind of like almost being married. You’re stuck to it until you can’t do it anymore,” he said.

The Neighborhood Spotlight is our monthly series highlighting our volunteer firefighters. If you know someone who should be included, email mgouger@tnonline.com