A high-pitched tone rang out on the radio, muting light-hearted teasing before a muffled dispatcher relayed the call to the firefighter/EMT crew.
The four-person crew jumped up from their table at Hippie Burger, hopped into a fire engine and an ambulance and left half-eaten burgers and chicken wings on the table. Dropping everything to respond to a call happens every three days for Keith Doyle, a probationary firefighter.
Keith works full-time as a firefighter/EMT at Fire Company No. 1, the same station where his dad served for 20 years. Keith and his wife, Katie Doyle, live on a farm where they raise their son, Bennett, who is almost 2. They’re expecting their second child in the fall.
Keith’s dad, Kevin Doyle, was Maysville’s fire chief and had been a firefighter for all of Keith’s life. The two also worked together at his homebuilding and repair business. Only weeks after retirement from the fire department, Kevin died as the result of a construction accident. “It was the worst day of my life,” Keith said.
“There’s nothing I’d rather have than for him to be here and see all Keith’s done,” said his mother, Lauren Doyle.
The firefighting community’s support of the Doyle family after Kevin’s death was impressive. Sixty fire engines from all over the region came for the funeral, which lasted eight hours and was held in the high school gym. The guest book had 1,300 signatures.
Seeing the brotherhood among firefighters motivated Keith to pursue firefighting as a career, which his father had not encouraged. He knew it was a risky job.
Chase Wilson has been a firefighter/EMT for two years and worked under Kevin. He was on call when Kevin was injured. He said he sees the similarities between father and son.
“Keith wants to be a good firefighter,” Chase said. “He’s working toward that and doing a good job. He’s a good guy, and he’s humble. He’ll do anything for you, too.”
Keith has bonded with his crew quickly and is known to crack jokes. They spend a third of their time working alongside each other, and he’s glad to be with his crew. “Seeing the entire community rally together — it just proved even farther how much of a family the fire department can be,” Keith said.
