SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — For Seth Reynolds, chasing fires has been a lifelong dream.
“My third birthday party, my brother got some chemicals from my dad’s work. and of course, mom freaked out and called the fire department.” Reynolds said. “I lit up when I saw the fire trucks.”
Lt. Jeff Vining, of Seminole County Fire Department, remembers the day he parked his fire truck in front of his home.
“He’s like,’ hey, you live here and work for the fire department?’ I was like, yeah,” Vining said.
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The next thing Vining remembers is Seth coming over the next day, wanting to see his firefighting.
“Every day after that, for the next 10 years (he) came by just asking questions,” he said.
Reynolds said it was more than just the lights and sirens that drew him in — it was also witnessing the compassion firefighters showed his mother as she battled breast cancer.
“To see how compassionate and caring they are towards her, I want to be that person for somebody one day,” Reynolds said.
He said it was his desire to be like those firefighters — to be with people on their worst day, and to make life a little bit better — that drew him to the profession.
In the years since his mother’s death, Seth has become part of Vining’s extended family.
“That kind of made me have to step up a little bit more and want to take him under my wing, help them get through school and just get through life,” Vining said.
That mentorship has helped Seth on his road to becoming a firefighter-paramedic.
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“He’s taught me a lot of life lessons and how to succeed in the career and get into the career so it’s been a tremendous help and a great friendship,” Seth said.
Seth said while he is leaving his options open, he would love to work for Seminole County Fire Department after graduation and one day, perhaps work alongside his mentor.
“I could be his lieutenant one day or maybe if I grow up, get promoted to a battalion chief, you know, I could be in charge of him,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds is getting ready to graduate from EMT school and then proceed to paramedic school, thanks to a GoFundMe page that Vining started.
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