John Lewis and Willie Coker were hired on the same day — Aug. 1, 1979 — at the Greenwood Fire Department.
That’s not all they have in common. The two most senior members of the department share a respect for each other and a dedication to protecting the people and property of the community they serve.
“It is great,” said Lewis, the assistant chief. “He has his own personality, and I have mine. We both have that love for the department.”
Collectively, their experience has been useful in training and helping the younger generations of firefighters.
“We make sure the men are trained and share with the younger guys where we have come from,” Lewis said. “Sometimes the younger generations don’t appreciate what they have.”
Lewis, 59, has lived in Greenwood his entire life. He never expected to become a fireman but jumped at the opportunity when it presented itself.
“I fell in love with it, and I have been here for 38 years,” Lewis said.
Coker, 61, has lived in Greenwood since 1964.
He knew he wanted to be a fireman after watching a crew of them put out a house fire near his own home when he was 17, he said.
“It wasn’t the type of job that anybody could do, and I liked doing that type of work,” Coker said.
The job was appealing to him because it meant that he was dealing with people and helping to save lives, he said.
In 2003, Coker was promoted to battalion chief. He helps supervise the firefighters in the department.
First thing in the morning, he checks that all the staff is there or available. Then, he double-checks the firefighting equipment to make sure that everything is ready to go. There is also physical training in the mornings and housekeeping duties throughout the day.
“At all times, you have to be ready to fight fires,” he said.
Many of the duties for Lewis, who was promoted to assistant fire chief in 2006, are similar to Coker’s. Lewis also writes reports and looks for grants that might help the fire department.
Both men agreed that the most difficult part of their job is supervising 55 individual personalities, covering several generations, in the Fire Department.
“You have to come in, and you have to be ready to deal with whatever challenges happen on a daily basis,” Lewis said.
Both said their favorite part of being a fireman is being able to serve and help the public.
“I really love my job,” Coker said. “When you are dealing with fire, you don’t know what is going to happen. You have to be a step ahead. The fire isn’t going to wait on you.”
Yet, there are times when the job can become nerve-racking.
“I have been in that situation several times,” Coker said. “Anytime when you’re dealing with a fire that involves people, your adrenaline is going to go up.”
Lewis agreed that there is a certain element of adrenaline that comes with the job, especially going out to help people.
“I love that aspect because that is what we are. We are community helpers, and I love helping people,” he said.
Lewis said the public has been very supportive as well as Mayor Carolyn McAdams. Still, he wishes residents better understood how hard the department works and trains to serve them.
Coker agreed, saying he is a fireman 24 hours a day.
“This a job you’ve got to be trained for. We have to be trained and ready at all times,” Coker said. “You have to have faith in your training and courage in your job.”
Despite the danger and sometimes tense moments of firefighting, Lewis said he and his colleagues know how to minimize the risks that come with their job.
“Over a period of time, you see so much, but some things you never get used to. Every fire is different, but you get a love for it. It is sort of strange,” Lewis said.
“One guy said, ‘Man, y’all are crazy. Everybody is running away from the fires, and y’all are running into the fire.’
“But we have been trained to do that and know the limits.”
•Contact Lauren Randall at 581-7239 or lrandall@gwcommonwealth.com.
