Andra Bryan Stefanoni: New fire chief is still a ‘builder at heart’

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May 9, 2010

By Andra Bryan Stefanoni news@joplinglobe.com The Joplin Globe Sun May 09, 2010, 05:29 PM CDT

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Scott Crain didn’t grow up playing fireman with a plastic red hat and fake badge.

It wasn’t until age 23, in 1978 — when, as a mason, he laid the very first brick at the new Pittsburg High School on the eastern end of Fourth Street — that he even considered being a firefighter.

Another laborer on the project, whose father worked at the Fire Department, suggested that Crain apply to work there.

So he did, and he was hired.

Crain worked his way up to battalion chief and, in an odd twist of fate, found himself supervising the brickwork being done at the new Fire Station No. 1 on the western end of Fourth Street.

Last week, he reached the pinnacle of his career when he was named fire chief.

On his 55th birthday last Thursday, he sat down to chat about his career and his plans.

As the last hire under longtime Chief Elmer Fields, Crain spent his early career under Fields’ replacement, Bill Scott. Crain soon was promoted to lieutenant and then captain, and then to battalion chief in 2005.

But as a hands-on “builder at heart” who is the son, grandson and nephew of bricklayers, Crain never gave up masonry. He opted to do it on days off between his typical firefighter’s shift of 24 hours.

“I was real proud of that heritage, and real proud to drive by structures that I’ve worked on, including Fire Station No. 2 and 3,” he said.

In recent years, Crain decreased the number of bricklaying jobs he took on, but on a recent weekend someone ran into the front of Bo’s One-Stop down the street from the fire station, so Crain ran down and fixed the brickwork.

The Fire Department is full of sideline tradesmen — there are electricians and carpenters and plumbers. Those men also are the ones who fight hard to save structures that tradesmen have built.

But over the years, building materials have changed, meaning the way fires are fought has changed too. Many materials now are highly flammable and toxic, with more possibility of collapse. That requires more training and education on building design and construction.

Today’s Fire Department does more than fight fires. The roster is filled with all manner of tasks, from EMS/first responder training and calls, to state inspections and fire prevention education in schools, and flushing the city’s 1,200 hydrants each year.

Crain’s “builder at heart” nature is evident when he speaks of the future and his plans. He may have been around a while, but that doesn’t mean he’s settled. He’s always looking around the corner for what’s coming next, and there is a lot he’d like to check off of his list, such as:

A swift-water rescue team that could work closely with the Fire Department in Parsons to man a boat in flooded areas, Big Hill Lake, the Neosho River and strip pits.

Participation on the Region 7 Structural Collapse Team.

Conducting a multi-community hazardous materials class so crews could be ready to confine dangerous spills.

Crain will start making promotions this week, including a battalion chief to fill his former position.

One thing he’s clear about: Firefighters don’t sit around on weekends.

“It’s ever-changing, every day,” he said. “I’ve never played a game of checkers in 31 years. But I’ve loved every minute of it.”

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Andra Bryan Stefanoni: New fire chief is still a ‘builder at heart’

Eliminating the state income tax and increasing sales tax was debated during a press day on Thursday at the Missouri Capitol. Do you favor that proposal?

Eliminating the state income tax and increasing sales tax was debated during a press day on Thursday at the Missouri Capitol. Do you favor that proposal?

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