Winchester firefighter keeping it in the family

For Scottie Highley, firefighting is the family business.

The Montgomery County native is a third generation firefighter, who followed his grandfather and father into the fire service.

“It’s in the blood,” said Highley, a lieutenant with Winchester Fire-EMS. “It’s something I wanted to make a career of. I was brought up in it, going on fire calls with my dad.”

Highley started volunteering with Montgomery County’s fire department in 1995 until he could become a full-time firefighter. He was hired at Clark County Fire Department in November 2000, but returned to Montgomery County after two years. The change, he said, gave him the opportunity to fight fires with his father.

“I wanted to say I worked with my dad,” he said. “I made an interior attack with my dad. Shortly after that, I left and came over here.”

Since 2003, Highley has worked his way through the ranks at Winchester Fire-EMS. Presently, Highley works with most of the department’s rescue efforts, from extrication to rope rescue to structural collapse and others.

“I’ve always liked that part of the field,” he said.

As the number of structure fires has dropped, rescue operations have filled some of the void. Winchester Fire-EMS has a fully stocked rescue truck, Rescue 2, which responds to emergencies both in Winchester and Clark County, as well as in surrounding counties.

In recent years, Highley and other firefighters responded to a mudslide in Powell County which trapped a woman in her house. Four years, ago, the city helped rescue two hikers who fell off a cliff near Hall’s Falls.

One of the biggest challenges, he said, is keeping up with all the advancements in equipment and technique. Any rescue certifications and training are in addition to the required 100 hours of annual training and certification to be a firefighter, he said.

“I do it for the citizens,” Highley said. “I’m eligible to retire Jan. 26. I’m not going anywhere. I’m 40 years old. I love riding the front seat of the fire truck and playing with the air horn.”

The training, he said, is so they can be ready when the call comes.

“For the public, the best (day) is when we’re here training,” he said. “For us, we’re here to make runs. I don’t wish anyone’s house to burn down or anyone to wreck, but we want to be there when it happens.”

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