Introducing Firefighter Ben Weber, LFD I grew up on 13th and Allison across from Kings Woods. My brother and I were unruly kids, and my mom would send us to play in the woods until the street lights came on. As we got older, we spent our days traveling around the city playing basketball—any neighborhood, any court. How fun, and what a great way to grow up! We could play all day on the court and then hang out at the beach. The greatest thing about our neighborhood was the proximity to Lorain City Schools. I was able to walk to Lakeview, Irving, and Admiral King. The 15 to 30-minute walk in the morning helped me collect my thoughts and prepare for the day. I was extremely fortunate; I had great teachers and classmates, and there is something to say about going to kindergarten and graduating with the same group of friends. A chance meeting with a young firefighter in my freshman year of high school piqued my interest in the profession. This meeting changed the course of my life. I remember being in a car accident when I was roughly ten years old. Being the oldest kid of three, my mom needed me to remain calm and help the younger kids. The fire department— they ran ambulance back then—showed up and helped everyone. I vaguely remember thinking that even if I didn't do well in school, I had a knack for being relatively calm in stressful situations. This, coupled with my friendship with the young firefighter cemented in my mind that this was the path for me. Honestly, I barely got through high school, and I joined the Navy as a Damage Controlman (a shipboard firefighter). This role gave me experience and military bonus points on the entry test for the fire department.
photos by Valerie Gonzalez
l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol
I enlisted in the Navy in April of 1993, then I got hired by the fire department in May of 1997. I will have 25 years of service in May 2022, but the initial training consisted of 240 hours of academy training. After that, you are statecertified. The first year in the department is considered your probationary period. The senior guys really put you through the wringer. (I crawled around so much that first year that I put holes in the toes of my boots!) After your first year, the intensity slows down, but the learning never really stops. Lorain Local Magazine | page 32
