Hickory's new firefighters

Eric Bartlett

Prior to employment with the Hickory Fire Department, Bartlett served as a volunteer firefighter with Icard Township Fire & Rescue, where he was a member for eight years. He is certified as an EMT at the paramedic level through the North Carolina Office of Emergency Services. He has also completed the Hazardous Materials Operations level training. He resides in Icard with his wife, Crystal.

Lucas Carter

For 4 ½ years, Lucas has served as a volunteer firefighter with Granite Falls Fire Department. He is certified as an EMT and has certification in Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations levels. He is enrolled at Catawba Valley Community College in the Fire Technology program. He resides in Granite Falls.

Joshua Chapman

Chapman has been a member of Sugar Loaf Volunteer Fire Department for five years, where he serves as lieutenant. Chapman is certified as a level I and II firefighter and has certification in Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations levels. He is also certified as an EMT. He resides in Sugar Loaf with his parents, Seth and Dianne Chapman, and two brothers, Edwin and Micah. He is a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Taylorsville.

Nathan Church

For four years, Church has served as a volunteer firefighter with Collettsville Fire Department. Church is certified as an EMT and is working toward a degree in Emergency Preparedness Technology through Caldwell Community College. Church lives in Collettsville, and his parents are Randy and Jill Church and sister, Meredith.

Jordan Clark

Clark has served as a firefighter with Hudson Fire & Rescue for four years. Through the North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission, he has certifications as a Firefighter Level II and Hazardous Materials Operations level. He is also specialized in the area of Diver training. Clark has also completed training as an EMT. He and his wife Caroline live in Hudson.

Stephen Craig

For 10 years, Stephen Craig has served as a volunteer firefighter with the Mountain View Fire Department, where he currently serves as captain. He has certification as an EMT through the North Carolina Office of EMS. Craig is also certified as a Level II firefighter and has Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations levels. He has a Bachelor Degree in Church Ministry through Warner Southern University. He resides in Mountain View.

Andrew Dixon

For seven years, Dixon has been a member of Propst Crossroads Fire Department, where he serves a second Lieutenant. He is certified as a Level II firefighter and Hazardous Materials Operations level through the NC Fire & Rescue Commission. He is certified as an EMT through the NC Office of EMS. He resides in Propst Crossroad's area with his wife, Brittney.

Michael Donahue

Donahue graduated from Belmont-Abbey College with a degree in business administration. He is certified as an EMT and has worked with Catawba County EMS. He lives in Hickory with his wife, Tracy, and daughters, Abbey and Hannah.

Benjamin Godfrey

For six years, Benjamin Godfrey has been a member of St. Stephens Fire Department, where he has served as firefighter. Godfrey is certified as an EMT through the Office of EMS and has certifications in Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations levels through the N.C. Fire & Rescue Commission. He is a 2003 graduate of St. Stephens High School and lives in St. Stephens.

Jeffrey Harvey

For the past four years, Jeffrey Harvey has been a member of the Valdese Fire Department, where he served as Engineer. Through the NC Fire & Rescue Commission, Harvey is certified as a level II firefighter and Hazardous Materials Operations and Awareness level. He has also completed certification as an EMT. He resides in Valdese and has three children: Kaitlyn, Jessica, and Hannah.

Rich Jenkins

Jenkins has been a member of Granite Falls Fire Department for the past three years, where he serves as firefighter and EMT. Jenkins is certified as an EMT and has completed the Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations level courses. In 2008, he graduated from Catawba Valley Community College with an associate degree in Fire Protection Technology. He is a senior at the University of North Carolina Charlotte majoring in Fire Safety Engineering Technology. He lives in Caldwell County.

Brian Lynch

Two years ago, Lynch joined the Mountain View Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter. He has completed training and is certified as a Level I firefighter and has Hazardous Materials Operations and Awareness level training thorough the N.C. Fire & Rescue Commission. He is working to complete training as a Rescue Technician. He has completed training as an EMT through Catawba Valley community College and has completed the Firefighter I and II rookie school through Gaston College. His parents are Max and Debby Lynch and his sister is Amanda. He lives in Mountain View.

Michael Chad Martin

Martin has served as a firefighter with Hudson Fire & Rescue for the past nine years, where he currently serves as lieutenant. He has completed training and is certified as a level I firefighter and has Hazardous Materials Operations level certification. He is also certified as an EMT through the Office of EMS. Martin has also completed training as an Open Water Diver. He and his wife, Vannessa, live in Hudson.

Chris Paulsen

For the past year, Paulsen has been a member of Little River Fire Department. However, from 1999-2008, he was a member of Felton Fire Department and served as captain. He is certified as a Firefighter Level I and EMT. Paulsen has also completed specialized training in Large Animal Rescue and Wild Land Firefighting. He lives in Little River with his wife, Danielle, and children, Katelyn and Justin.

Joshua David Price

For five years, Price has been a member of Grace Chapel Fire Department where he serves as a firefighter and EMT. He has completed training and is certified in the following areas: Firefighter Level II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operation levels and EMT. Price has also completed training as a Driver/Operator. He resides in Grace Chapel.

Stephen Oscar Romano

Romano has been a member of the Bethlehem Community Volunteer Fire Department for almost two years. He has completed training and is certified as a Firefighter Level II and Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations levels. Romano is certified as an EMT and has also completed training as a Rescue Technician. He is currently enrolled at Catawba Valley Community College and plans to transfer to Western Carolina University. He resides in Bethlehem.

Sean Ruddy

Ruddy has been a volunteer firefighter with Mountain View Fire Department for three years. He is certified as a Level II firefighter, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations level and EMT. Ruddy is working to obtain certifications as a Driver Operator and in the area of Fire & Life Safety Education. He lives in Mountain View.