Introducing Avrey Cruz, Currently Lorain's Youngest Firefighter

photographed & interviewed by Valerie Gonzalez

"I love the pride of the residents and the diversity of Lorain the most. Everyone from Lorain knows what this means. There is a special pride coming from and being a resident of the city of Lorain. We have and are called the "International City" with a festival to celebrate just that. America is often referred to as the "melting pot, " and I believe the city of Lorain really exemplifies this."

One of our fire department's newest and youngest firefighters is Lorain-native Avrey Cruz. With just six months with the Lorain Fire Department under his belt, this 2019 Clearview Local Schools graduate is currently a probationary firefighter getting to serve his hometown community that he loves.

Avrey remembers playing sports growing up with Lorain Youth Baseball at Campana Park and under the lights at Oakwood Park for fun. He also played football and graduated high school with two varsity letters in those two sports.

Since a young age, Avrey has enjoyed attending Lorain's diverse celebrations, including the annual Memorial Day parade, which he participated in one year with his high school's marching band. Other favorite city-wide festivities include Lorain's Fourth of July Fireworks display and Rockin' on the River summer concerts.

Over a few summers, Avrey even spent time working for the City of Lorain's Parks and Recreation Department, where he learned the most about the city and tried his best to improve Lorain's various recreational activities.

"This city is filled with family, friends, and many familiar faces that make working on the fire department a true blessing that I am grateful for."

Avrey always wanted to do something in his community, and he knew he wanted to impact others' lives directly. Growing up, he was interested in science and considered himself a "nerd of the science field. " He was greatly interested in fire science, as there is much more to know beyond that fire is just hot. While taking multiple college science classes in high school, he developed an interest in somehow going into the EMS field.

In 2019, one of his former high school football coaches had just become a firefighter. The two talked, and Avrey learned how the fire service consists of tradition and directly impacts the community in countless ways. Speaking highly of the camaraderie of the firehouse and how the job is impossible without teamwork, Avrey discovered his path leading to working with the fire department.

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

"The fire service, especially the Lorain Fire Department, has a high standard of everything I value most: tradition, pride, camaraderie, physical and mental efforts, and continuous training not only to learn new things but to try to master the skills needed to provide firefighting and rescue services at the highest standard possible for the citizens that deserve nothing but the best."

To become a firefighter in Lorain, Avrey shared that someone has to go through a fire academy capable of providing a "Firefighter II" certification that the State of Ohio accepts. Someone can also go through training for emergency medical certification as an EMT or Paramedic; however, this is not a requirement.

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

Once someone is officially a part of the LFD, they will take part in many hours of continuous training to keep their skills sharp and consistently perform at the highest level. The first-year probationary period includes book and skills training and quarterly evaluations on multiple tasks to test for proficiency. From there, the training never stops, and firefighters constantly learn about their equipment, standard operating guidelines, and working knowledge of their city's geography. Firefighters can also gain certification in many different specialty areas.

The job can be challenging, but Avrey usually finds that comedy or joking helps the firefighters support one another through the day-to-day stress.

"Firefighters try to support each other by caring for what that fireman can't control. One thing firefighters are best at is problem-solving. When another firefighter is in trouble, others will step up to the plate to get him through it, usually with a little comedy involved. "

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

Avrey's favorite experiences in the LFD come from those he works with. Since he is currently the youngest member of the department, he said he feels like a sponge soaking up all the knowledge that his coworkers have to offer—not only about the job but life, too. Avrey said his department is filled with many people willing to help teach him to be the best he can be.

A typical shift includes coming in and receiving a verbal report from the firefighter being relieved for the day. The report includes calls the previous shift went on, the truck's condition, and any equipment abnormalities. Once the off-going firefighter is relieved, on-duty firefighters check their personal turnout gear and their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to ensure everything is in working order and ready for the day ahead. A lot of the day consists of checking that equipment is prepared to respond in any situation the day may present.

Once the equipment and truck are checked, firefighters have daily duties to ensure the station is clean and ready for the day. Firefighters also have weekly duties, including station ground maintenance and bay floor days. Once the station is in a ready state, the day consists of training, studying, preparing meals, and taking care of the equipment while standing by for emergencies.

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

Even though no workday is the same as another, Avrey believes there are lessons to learn every day. Some days will be harder than others, but he knows the day's lessons will help make responding to calls of a similar situation easier in the future.

Through those difficult days and outside of the LFD, Avrey relies on the support of his family—especially his mother and father. He believes he wouldn't be where he is today without them.

"They have supported me all my life and especially supported me as a young adult going through school to become a firefighter. They have made me the person I am, and I'm truly blessed with the parents I have. They pushed me when I needed to be pushed, and they supported me when I needed support. They raised me to be strong, have pride in everything I do, and care for others who are less fortunate and in need. I don't know where I would be as a young man in today's world without them.

Family and community pride are what drive Avrey to continue each day as a firefighter. The people he works with and being able to take part in events throughout the community are the highlights of the job for him. The citizens of Lorain also give acts of kindness that the entire department appreciates every day.

Avrey says that any act of kindness shown by the community is felt and appreciated by the LFD. While they are out on the truck, a simple smile or a wave can make a great difference. And this past September, a man dropped off a wood-burned art piece to remember those lost on 9/11. That piece now hangs in the station day room.

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

While acts of kindness are always appreciated throughout the fire service, Avrey also gives back beyond firefighting. He is currently an assistant high school football coach at Clearview High School. He enjoys working closely with this age group as they are finding out what they want to do after they graduate.

Avrey says he tries his best to help guide the players in the direction they wish to go, and he encourages them to reach their goals like he was always encouraged to do growing up.

"One of the biggest highlights about the job is getting out with the community. Since I've been on the LFD, I've been able to take part in many fire safety education tours at the firehouse and show and tell our trucks and equipment at the schools during October fire prevention month to the preschool/elementary-aged children. I've also gotten to take part in the Veteran's Day park clean-up, MDA Fill the Boot, and other volunteer events at Rockin' on River at Black River Landing. There are still many more events I am looking forward to participating in and connecting with the community. "

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

Avrey has come a long way since he was a kid attending Safety Town at the former Southview High School. But the spark that started that day when he first saw the fire truck and learned his first lessons in fire safety from the Lorain firefighters is what continues to drive Avrey, now a part of that very same fire department.

"There is a community that trusts in us and believes that we will be there on their worst days, and I want to be the fireman I aspired to be when I was that kid in Safety Town. "

Avrey sees familiar faces and places every day on the job, and there's a special pride when you get to be able to work in your hometown. As the youngest member of the department, he also works with people who have far more job and life experience that have helped him in many ways since his journey first began. With their help, he is becoming a better fireman and also a better person.

"This city has such an amazing history, and working for the Lorain Fire Department has been such an eye-opener of history and tradition. I come to work, and I listen to the stories of the senior members of the department and the amazing things they have done for the city. Many other LFD members from Lorain also take pride in their city and believe the citizens who trust us deserve nothing but the best. I want to continue that tradition and support this community in a positive manner.

As a member of the Lorain Fire Department—a service that is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year—Avrey is just one of the firefighters working to respond to our city's nearly 2200 yearly calls covering approximately 24 square miles of land with a population of nearly 65,000 people.

"We are here to provide you with the safety you need whenever you call for us, and we will give every effort we can to help.

photo by Valerie Gonzalez