Volunteer Spotlight: Chris Palatucci

Name: Chris Palatucci
Title: Firefighter
Department: South Bristol Volunteer Fire Department
Location: South Bristol, ME

Why are you an NVFC member?
Honestly, I joined for the additional death benefit insurance but have found it to be worth much more than that. The open forum digest is full of useful information for noobs like me and for veterans of the fire service.

Why are you a fire service volunteer?
I’ve always been a “pay it forward” kind of guy and wanted to contribute to the small community here. Possibly more importantly, as a kid, I rode my bike into town one day to the fire station for a reason I can’t even remember now. One of the firefighters gave me two little U.S. flags on a wooden pedestal for no particular reason. Since that day, I’ve wanted to be in the fire service.

I tried as a teen and again in college, but I was always in places with fully paid departments. What pushed me over the edge was losing my best friend in high school, Chuck. His dad was head mechanic for the White Plains (NY) FD, and Chuck and I were both motorheads — we were at the station all the time. His dad died when we were in high school, and Chuck took it very hard. He was just getting his life back together when he was in a car wreck and had to be extricated by the WPFD. He died tragically a few days later. My service to the community is in memory of Chuck and his dad.

What year did you join the fire or emergency service?
2022

What are your memorable moments as a firefighter or EMS provider?
Every call is rewarding in some way, but on one of my very first calls, we were assisting an elderly woman who had fallen. Her husband looked at me and said, “Thank you for your service,” and I almost lost it. Just five simple words. I hadn’t really thought about what I was doing — it was just another call for help.

What contributions have you (and your department) made in your community?
We’re a rural community that depends on us heavily, as it takes almost 30 minutes for paid EMS to respond. Like most departments, much of what we do isn’t fire-related – it’s rescue, clearing roads, downed lines, and more. Without us, our small community would be much worse off.

Interested in serving your community? Find volunteer fire service opportunities at https://makemeafirefighter.org/.