Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Jones recalls watching the Twin Towers fall during a high school social studies class and feeling inspired by the selfless acts performed by first responders on 9/11 and in the days that followed. It was then, he says, that he knew he wanted to be a firefighter.
Jones, who trained with the Boone County Fire Protection District in Columbia and at the St. Louis County Fire Academy, has been a firefighter with various departments in the area for the past six years. He is also trained as an advanced life support paramedic after becoming an EMT
nearly a decade ago.
When asked why he wanted to work for CCFR, Jones says he was impressed by the attention and care the district shows for its residents, going above and beyond through various community programs and off-duty opportunities for crew members to interact with and serve local families.
He said he also loved that it’s a proud, strong union district.
“When we’re called out, that usually means it’s a bad day for someone in our community,” Jones says. “As a firefighter, we’re able to help them solve whatever problem they might be having, whether it’s a fire or a medical emergency or something else. I always want to be thinking of
what else I can do to help this person out.
“On one of my most memorable calls, I had to deliver a baby in the front yard — that will stick with me forever,” Jones says, adding that he went back a few days later with diapers, baby wipes and other items.
In his spare time, Jones enjoys spending time with his grandmother, who he describes as the strongest person he knows. He works as an instructor at the St. Louis County Fire Academy and helps organize events for inner city kids with his friends. He also enjoys watching movies and staying active, and was certified as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise in 2017.