Doug Wright – Volunteer Firefighter
Husband. Dad. Sales VP. Former Pro Golfer. Volunteer Firefighter.
Doug grew up in Lymington, a small town in the south of England, and has had an adventurous life. He played professional golf for 10 years, and then a career in the golf division of Wilson had him living in Germany, where he met his wife. Then in 2016, he moved to the US with his family—his wife and two young sons—and they immediately fell in love with Glen Ellyn, where they settled down. Even with all that adventure, he never anticipated the chance to become a firefighter.
Fast forward to 2021, when he was driving past the fire station with his son and brought up that this was something he had always admired—people in the forces and fire service. “I told him that if life had worked out in different ways, I would have been interested in the fire service,” said Doug. That’s when his son informed him the department was volunteer, and encouraged him to look into it. It was perfect timing—Doug was traveling less and working from home more because of Covid. Even better timing—two days later, a flier from the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company arrived at his house. He decided to check it out.
“Volunteering for the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my life.”
“I didn’t know what the criteria were,” says Doug. “I am reasonably fit, but I am in my early 50s. They told me to come along. I found them welcoming, and so organized,” says Doug. “You are welcomed to come for the meet and greets and you see what it’s all about. Once you get started you become committed and it becomes part of your life.”
Doug started training with a large class of recruits in 2021. “I enjoyed my time learning a new set of skills. We learned all aspects of firefighting including driving the vehicles, pumping, taking hose lines in properties, and all the knowledge about fire behavior. A lot goes into firefighting that you don’t fully appreciate until you are involved ,” says Doug. “The initial training is excellent and to stay sharp, we all continue to train throughout our service.”
And then, it all pays off. “That first time you turn up in the middle of the night and the house is on fire, I give credit to all the training and hard work you put in during probation. When you are finally in an emergency situation, your muscle memory kicks in, and you confidently perform the job you are trained to do,” says Doug.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with officers—the time and effort it takes to train, to make the organization work, and their passion for the community and the fire service,” says Doug. He encourages everyone interested to come and at least just check it out. “If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, come to a meet and greet. There’s no harm in learning more about what just might be a life changing opportunity for you.”
“The initial training is excellent and to stay sharp, we all continue to train throughout our service.”
Doug’s top three reasons to volunteer:
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You get to help people. “As a volunteer, you get to give back to a community that you feel a part of,” says Doug.
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You are a part of the team. “When there’s a major incident, it’s rewarding to feel the accomplishment when everyone comes together to do the task you’ve trained for,” says Doug.
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It’s a chance to push yourself. “You’ll learn completely different skills to your normal day-to-day life,” says Doug. “Also, it’s physically demanding, so it’s good for your health and feeling alive.”
