A Decade of Dedication to Fire Service

We have a new fire chief in town, and her name is Velvet Hackett.
Hackett has been involved in the fire service for ten years in Davidson County. Four years ago, she joined the Cooleemee Fire Department and advanced to Captain; this past February, she was promoted to Chief.

Learning the Ropes of Leadership

The ins and outs of Fire Chief presented a learning curve that included budgets and grants, and making sure the firefighters have top-of-the-line equipment. The drive behind that focus is always for the benefit of the citizens.

Building a Strong Leadership Team

Captain Ryan Hall, after serving ten years in Iredell County, came to Davie County, where it felt like a large family right away. Hall started serving Cooleemee earlier this year and was recently promoted to captain. His job is focusing on personnel and training to provide the best for the citizens of Cooleemee and the surrounding areas.

Lieutenant Ryan Hepler has served in the fire department for 15 years, with the last four years serving part-time in Cooleemee. His focus is on making sure the building and trucks are in good working order.

A Rigorous Promotional Process

Hackett explained that the department has a promotional process in effect.  Each firefighter takes a written exam covering policies and procedures, as well as knowledge of the fire service. A panel interview is held by Hackett and the deputy chief. An outsider from the county is included to guard against favoritism.

Hands-on assessments measure practical skills at the training grounds in Mocksville. Running various scenarios tests how they operate on the fire ground.

Hackett chooses her officers based on how well they function. “Officers handle more than just putting out fires,” says Hackett, so the layers of interviewing help her determine who is fit to hold which office.

A Department on the Rise

Thirty people are currently on the roster. Comments from several officers stated that the culture of the department changed greatly when Hackett was promoted to Chief.

Her forward and progressive mindset, how we train in-house, and how we operate on the scene allow us to better ourselves for the benefit of our citizens.

Hackett’s presence at the firehouse—helping with training, handling grants, purchasing equipment, and responding to calls—makes a significant difference.

A Tireless Commitment

Hackett has a full-time job with the EMS Emergency Call Center. She spends about two hours at her home and the rest at the fire department. Her presence has created a high level of respect.

Hackett explains that structural calls get five departments. Statistics show that if a firefighter is trapped, it takes 12 to 21 people to rescue them from the building. Mutual aid partners are very important, and that’s vital for all departments to succeed.

Firehouse Family

They have a saying at their department, “If you work at a fire station, I’m sorry, but if you work at the firehouse, congratulations.” This is their home away from home. They take care of each other and spend a lot of time together.

Congratulations, Chief Hackett, we are happy to have you here serving our citizens.

Feel free to contact me at cooleemeenews@gmail.com, or call at 336.250.1133.