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.

Ben Weber, Lorain Fire Department

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

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.

Ben Weber, Lorain Fire Department

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

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 state-certified. 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.

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

Having mentors who have worked in the same field is the greatest thing about the fire department. The older, salty guys take an active interest in the success of the young firefighters—partly because this is a young man's game. It's a physically demanding job. But being physical without knowledge gets you nowhere.

As for my mentors, I have to start with the young firefighter I met, Tom Brown—the eventual fire chief but now the Lorain Port and Finance Authority director. He is now my brother-in-law and closest friend and confidant. Without him, I would have been a pipe fitter like my grandpa, dad, uncles, and brother. I owe him a debt of gratitude and will never forget it.

By chance, my wife's brothers are both first responders (one police, one firefighter), and they took the mantle of being the older brothers I never had.

LT Bill Horvath was a constant calming force in my career. I still hear his words echo in my mind when I'm about to do something stupid. He saw it all and shared his knowledge with me about firefighting and being a man in general. I routinely text or call him to let him know I finally figured out what he meant with some cryptic message he gave me 20 years ago.

AC Roy Cochran and Captain Tom Sultzer took me under their wings and helped keep me under control. I was a bit of a wild card as a young man. They molded me into the fire officer I am today. I am nowhere near the man I want to be, but I'm closer than I've ever been. I'll keep working until I get to where I want to be.

But, by far, the greatest influence on me—my mentor and confidant —was my dad. He led by example. He helped the neighborhood, and he helped out coworkers and people he'd see on the street. He wasn't flashy. He just did the right thing by his fellow man. He worked hard, provided for his family, was a faithful husband, a good father, and a mentor to his coworkers. He taught us, kids, by his actions. A "do as I do" type of guy.

And while my dad was a great influence on me, most importantly, my mother was, as the saying goes, the strong woman behind the good man. I was extremely lucky to have such amazing parents.

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

Firefighters mentally beat each other to a pulp to toughen each other up. We use the darkest of dark humor to cope. But seriously, I had a tough run about five years ago. I had five first due (my crew and I were first on scene) fatalities or traumas of men and children within six months. I struggled mightily with my mental health. The macho in me said to keep quiet and soldier on. My brain said, "Dude, you need help."

I didn't know how to ask for help, and the department didn't know how to help me once I figured out how to ask. It took a long time to find what I needed. I have been very open with my struggles with mental health, and since I have been so open, more and more guys have confided in me that they have also struggled at some point in their careers. Even some of the most stoic of men have shared their experiences with me. I have become a strong advocate for mental health within the fire service. I try to be proactive. If I know that a crew had a tough call, I try to reach out and make sure they have the resources they need.

I have one of my closest friends since fire school that I know I can always rely on. We share with and rely on each other, and support each other. I have a police friend from another community that is always willing to listen, and he kind of gets it. Then, my whiskey friend—he is amazing. (He may not know what's going on in my head, but he will listen.) And two civilian friends that I have been friends with for 20 years —they listen and drink with me. That's all I really need most of the time.

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

Still, my strongest advocate, the most supportive person in my life, is my wife. She worked in the emergency room for ten years before becoming an educator, and she has seen some things. She is strong and understanding. She will listen and let me wallow in my self-pity until it's time to move on. Then she will let me know it's that time and help me get to where I need to be. She insisted I grow up.

The best part of the job is making a positive impact on our community. We roll up, and kids wave and parents are happy we are there. What could be better? Even on someone's worst day, folks are grateful we show up and do what we do. The idea that citizens call us to help, whether it's a house fire with people trapped or a cat in the tree— citizens rely on us to fix things. What an awesome responsibility! And we are more than up for the challenge.

Today, the Lorain Fire Department is more progressional than we have ever been. The culture change over the last 25 years is profound. The young men coming up are even more aware of the opportunity to serve the community than my group is. I attribute this to our group mentoring the next generation. I am at a point in my career where I can positively influence that younger generation. They are indeed the future, and there are some incredible young men in the fire service.

As for what I love most about Lorain, I love that no matter where I go, I run into someone I know—kids I grew up with, their parents, people that made an impression on me one way or another. There are so many places that bring back fond memories.

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

Outside of the job, most of my time is devoted to work or family, and I relish my time watching the kids' sporting activities. I met my wife on the first day of high school, and we have been together since then. We have been together for 33 years, and she has blessed me with four incredible children ages 30, 19, 15, and 12. All have a great combination of our traits. I am fortunate to have a healthy and loving family.

On occasion, I can break away from the grind to crew for my friend's sailboat races. Although I don't get out as often as I'd like, they are a wealth of knowledge and have inspired my dream of sailing a LOT in my retirement. I spend a TON of time watching YouTube sailing videos and reading sailing nonfiction. I can't wait to become proficient at sailing.

But most of all, I love talking to people. I believe everyone knows something that I don't, and it's amazing what I can learn from listening to people. From the wealthiest of Lorainites to our homeless population, everyone has a story and something to share that may positively impact my life.

I joined the Fire Prevention Office this year. So I intend to finish my career by helping prevent fires before they start. I try to mentor the younger men and the young talented, aggressive, and intelligent young LTs coming up that will eventually replace me.

But it is always uncomfortable when someone says "thank you for your service," like it's an honor for me to be employed and serve the city I grew up in. It's an honor to help those in need. There is constantly food and treats and dinners, and we are very fortunate to have the support of our citizens. Coupled with the continued support of the tax levy, we really feel a positive vibe for the department. We truly are fortunate to have the support of our community.

It is exciting to see Lorain becoming something. Downtown is a destination. The Black River Landing, the restaurants—you can actually see a vision. My dad told me about being a kid (he grew up on 33rd and Lexington) and going downtown with his dad to pay bills. He would talk about how many people were down there, how many stores. You can almost see that happening again. It's really exciting.

Ben Weber, Lorain Fire Department

photo by Valerie Gonzalez

To read more about a day in the life of a Lorain firefighter, please visit lorainlocal.com/features-1/f/meet-lfd-firefighter-ben-weber.