TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— The Otter Creek Fire Department held a swearing-in ceremony for Joshua Frye, who was becoming the department’s first full-time hire ever.
Joshua Frye is a Vigo County native and has been a volunteer firefighter for four years. Now he has been hired by the department. He will work an eight-hour shift Monday through Friday and will do several jobs while there at the station, all while serving the Otter Creek Township area. After beginning as a volunteer firefighter, Frye knew that he wanted to make a career of it one day.
“It feels nice. I’ve been doing this as a volunteer for 4 years,” Frye said. “After I started taking the classes, I was like, I want to make a career out of this. I found the opportunity and took the jump for it. Soon as I took my classes finally got a taste of what the volunteer side was like. I wanted to make it into a career, whether that be not in Vigo County or as the opportunity arose. I’ve got the opportunity in Vigo County up here.”
Chief Deputy of the Otter Creek Fire Department Bryan Mount mentioned that the hiring process was taken seriously to make sure they found the perfect candidate for them.
“He had to go through physical testing, written testing, an interview process to determine which candidate would be the best fit for us,” Mount said. “We determined Josh would be the guy.”
Mount also mentioned how this is a great step forward for the department as they look to grow.
“This is a major step in the right direction for Otter Creek and the citizens of Otter Creek township,” Mount said. “To finally have somebody on duty being paid to respond to runs.”
Frye’s first day was Friday, August 1st, and he is very excited to begin his new career as a full-time firefighter.
