Get to know #yourColletonFirefighter Robert Gregory on #firefighterfriday. Captain Gregory is assigned to the Station 7 Platoon on “A” shift. Here is more information on Captain Gregory:
Robert entered the fire service twenty-two years ago because of his father, who served on the board of directors for Pine Ridge Fire Department. He would accompany his father to the fire station for meetings, and while his father would sit in the meetings, Robert would wander around the station and chat with some of the firefighters. The guys took Robert under their wings. He would often visit them anxious to turn sixteen, the age required to officially join the department. Unfortunately, the department elected to drop the junior program before his birthday. He didn’t give up hope; he continued to visit the firefighters and learn everything they would teach him. In 2002, after his eighteenth birthday, he officially joined Pine Ridge Fire Department. He enrolled in fire classes and started obtaining certifications. He loved the fire department, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to pursue a career, so he enrolled in college. After a year, he decided college was not for him. The day he withdrew is the day he went job hunting. The following day, he reported to St. Andrews Fire Department to start his career. Six months later, he would find himself at Mount Pleasant Fire, after a group of his fire buddies suggested that he apply. He finished EMT school and later enrolled in Paramedic School. He served Mount Pleasant for six years before making another move. He joined Colleton County Fire-Rescue in October 2009. Robert has served many different roles during his time at Colleton. He has served as a Firefighter-Paramedic, Flight Paramedic, and now serves at the Station 7 Platoon Captain on “A” Shift. In describing his job, Robert said, “This was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am able to take care of more citizens and actually see my patient care work, since we (Colleton Fire) transport the patients to the hospital. It brings me great joy in helping and treating patients from the initial point of call until transfer at the ER. The rural firefighting lifestyle is a perfect match to where I dug my roots in. I cannot thank my friends enough for the journey that I have been on in my whole fire career so far. They were great mentors and lifelong friends, some are still with us and some are not, but I am grateful for the path that I was led on to help others in their time of need and worst days.”
On his days off, Robert has a successful fence company that he considers to be his hobby. He and his wife, Krystle, are also building a new house, a forever home that Robert’s two children Gavin and Garret, along with Kystle’s son, Aaron, can enjoy together. The family enjoys traveling, attending Kystle’s races, and working on his vintage Volkswagen Beetles. Robert’s step son, Aaron, also works for Colleton County Fire-Rescue, and they enjoy the occasional call together.
