Fifteen Years of Service as a Volunteer Firefighter and Safety Educator

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jerod Kampwerth. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

For the past 15 years, Jerod Kampwerth has displayed the utmost strength, dedication and solidarity with his community through his role as a volunteer firefighter with the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District. Volunteering over 200 hours annually, Jerod is passionate about keeping community members safe, rescuing those in times of desperation and educating those with valuable knowledge about what to do in an emergency. 

The Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District, which relies entirely on volunteer staff, covers a vast area of 78 square miles in Illinois and serves a population of 5,000 residents. Jerod’s contributions, along with those of the other volunteer firefighters he works with, have been instrumental in ensuring the safety and well-being of his community. Recently promoted from captain to assistant chief, Jerod’s role within the department has expanded significantly. In this new command position, he will oversee most fire, rescue and EMS calls, ensuring that operations run smoothly and efficiently.  

“I actually just got named the assistant chief at the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District, which will change my roles a little,” Jerod says. “But for the most part, we as a department respond to any type of emergency we’re called upon – whether that’s EMS, rescue, hazmat, fire or anything someone doesn’t know how to take care of. With my new role, I’ll be more on the leadership command side of things, which means looking at more of the big picture and giving direction for people to go in and do certain tasks.”

Despite his increased responsibilities, Jerod remains hands-on and ready to perform rescue tasks when manpower is limited. “Because of being a volunteer department in a small rural area, you never know who’s going to show up or how many people you’ll have,” he explains. “So this doesn’t mean I won’t still have opportunities to go in and use my skills. I’ll just use them differently than I have been used to.” 

As assistant chief, Jerod is not only a leader in emergency situations but also plays a crucial role in the training and overall management of the department. His experience and expertise are invaluable in preparing new volunteers and ensuring that all members of the department are well-equipped to handle the challenges they face – which range from staying calm under extreme stress, utilizing specific skills and expertise, and communicating with those they’re serving during crisis.  

“I always wanted to be a firefighter, from the time I was young,” Jerod reflects. “Like any kid, I saw the trucks, lights and sirens, and I wanted that as a kid. When I got older, I was working on the grounds crew at schools, maintaining ball fields and working the events. I always thought to myself: there’s a big crowd of people here and if something happens, am I just going to be sitting here with my hands in my pockets not knowing what to do?”  

Jerod started by asking whether the crew could have a CPR class to train himself and others in his role what to do in such an emergency situation. From there, he found he wanted to do more. He joined a volunteer department where he was living at the time, which started his tenure in the fire department. After he got married, he moved to Highland and started with the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District… and the rest is history. 

When asked what the most rewarding part of his work is, Jerod says, “Being able to change someone’s day. We are called to their worst day, whatever that may be – whether it’s a pipe leaking or a vehicle or house fire. Being able to help them feel like it’s not the worst day of their life is what we do. We try to communicate they’ll be okay and that we’re there to help. That’s probably the most rewarding part of it.” 

Beyond his primary duties, Jerod also dedicates significant time to community engagement and education. He actively participates in local fire safety awareness programs, visiting schools and community centers to educate residents on fire prevention and emergency preparedness. His efforts in public education help instill a sense of responsibility within the community, empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent fires and respond effectively in emergencies.  

“What I notice is that whenever people are having their worst day, the number one thing they can do is try to stay calm and think clearly through the situation,” Jerod shares. “We show up and try to get them to calm down so that they can think clearly. That’s one thing people can do during heightened situations – practice staying calm and making decisions that help stabilize the situation. That helps us as responders a lot.” 

Jerod has always felt a call to help others in emergencies, but he feels especially passionate about volunteer firefighting. “I haven’t gotten to where I have without someone helping me along the way – whether it was family, friends or total strangers. That’s why I want to do this; to make someone’s day better when it feels like their worst,” he says.  

Jerod shares that around 70% of the country is covered by volunteer fire departments. “We’re kind of a dying breed,” he says. “Not many people want to do this. The departments are struggling to find people to do this. So if anyone has a specific skill and is able to do this, I think it’s important. And that goes for any volunteer organization out there – they all need people to step in and help.” 

Jerod’s 15 years of service, countless hours of volunteering and recent promotion to assistant chief are incredible testimonies to how deeply he cares about the strength and safety of his community. But he admits that he could not have reached any of these accomplishments alone: “I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today in the fire service without the help of my mentors – different chiefs, training centers and people who trained me. Those people helped me be who I am, and where I am, today.” 

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Jerod? Find local volunteer opportunities.