Meet your Carlton Firefighters!

In this edition of our "Meet Your Firefighters" series, we'll be introducing you to another one of our Junior Firefighters! While Juniors have a lot more limitations on what they're allowed to do, they can also be some of the most helpful individuals ever. Our Junior Firefighters have dedicated just as much to the Fire Department and to serving those in our communities!

For this instalment, we'd like to introduce you to Kyler Clay.

Kyler (left) receiving his certificate for graduating from the Fire Academy

A little get to know me: "Hi, I'm Kyler! I'm currently a student at the University of North Texas (UNT), and I'm planning to pursue a career in computer engineering. Initially, I joined the department because of my Chief. I worked with him outside of the department for a while, and started helping out at the station during that time. Eventually, I decided to join, and I fell in love with firefighting, the teamwork, and the sense of purpose that comes with helping provide for others. Every call is different, and every challenge pushes me to grow. It's taught me discipline, patience, and how to stay calm under pressure. Being part of the department has shown me what it truly means to serve, and it is something that I plan to carry with me no matter where life takes me."

As always, we've asked a series of questions to our firefighters to help you get to know them a little better!

Kyler (far left) is pictured alongside other CVFD firefighters.

What initially inspired you to become a firefighter?

"Watching my Chief. I knew him before I joined, and watching his bravery and passion inspired me. I just had this drive to learn as much as I can, and to try my best to help everyone that I could."

What are the most challenging parts of being a firefighter, both mentally and physically?

"Mentally, I would say just know that people are depending on you. But it also drives you to do the best you possibly can at all times. The hardest part physically is the endurance. You have to be strong, but scenes sometimes spanning over several days, you have to be able to perform your best through it all."

In your opinion, what are the most important qualities that a firefighter must possess?

"In my opinion, one of the most important qualities a firefighter must possess is having a deep respect for fire itself. It's not about being fearless, but about being smart and understanding what fire is capable of. A good firefighter knows when to push forward and when to step back, always keeping safety and situational awareness in mind. Confidence is important, but overconfidence can be dangerous. True strength in this job comes from respecting the risks, thinking clearly under pressure, and making smart decisions that keep yourself, your crew, and the people you're serving safe."

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing the fire service today?

"One of the biggest challenges facing the fire service today is the lack of available people to help. Many volunteer departments are understaffed, and the workload continues to increase as calls become more frequent and complex. Firefighting not only requires strength and endurance, but also commitment, and it's becoming harder to find people who can balance that with their everyday lives. With fewer hands to help share the workload, those still serving are pushed to their limits, both mentally and physically, as they work to keep their communities safe."

What do you hope to achieve during your time as a firefighter?

"During my time as a firefighter, I want to make a real difference by protecting life and property in my own communities, being there when people need help the most, and knowing that my actions have a positive impact. Whether it's responding to emergencies, preventing fires, or supporting my team, I hope to contribute in a way that keeps my community and my department safer and stronger."

What is one thing you would tell someone who is considering becoming a firefighter?

"It's not going to be easy. There will be hard days, and it will take every ounce of your strength. But knowing that you're doing something that matters, something that is actually helping people - that's an amazing thing. Firefighting isn't just a skill someone has; it's a mindset."

Kyler (standing, far right) during a debrief of an active scene.

Firefighter Kyler Clay has very quickly proven himself in the fire service. Within months after joining, he attended AND graduated from the Granbury Fire Academy. Almost immediately following, he was one of the Carlton Firefighters to deploy to the Hill Country areas to assist in flood-affected zones. Throughout all of this, he still managed to attend college, work an internship, and still show up for several active calls in our area. Kyler exemplifies what it means to have a heart of service and is always willing to take on any tasks assigned to him- so long as it doesn't involve small spaces, considering he's 6'5". Our Junior Firefighters are the next generation of the fire service, and Carlton VFD has been lucky to have a few pretty amazing ones train up with us.

Carlton VFD Firefighter, Hudson Skaggs: "Kyler is very outgoing and isn't afraid to back anyone up on anything that they ask. He is always willing to jump in where he can to help get a job done."

Carlton VFD Firefighter, Luke Barr: "Kyler's always very knowledgeable about how he thinks and goes about his life. He will also do whatever needs to be done without complaining, no matter what it is."

Carlton VFD Chief, Drew Barr: "Kyler is the perfect example of having the heart of a servant. That kid would do almost anything if it meant he could help someone else."

Overall, Kyler is described by his team as "intelligent," "caring," and "willing to do anything required." He has become an incredible asset to Carlton VFD, and we're beyond lucky to have him growing within our department. Kyler showcases the very best of the heart of service required to be in this field, and has proven himself several times over. We're so excited to see what's next for Firefighter Clay!