MANSFIELD — You can go ahead and turn off the alarm. The Mansfield Fire Department has another Boebel in its ranks.
Caden Boebel was one of four new firefighters sworn in Monday morning during a ceremony at Station 1, fulfilling a family legacy that has gone on for more than eight decades.
He became the fourth generation in his family to work in the MFD, a string that extends back to his great-grandfather, Leonard, who started with the department in 1942 and eventually became chief.
There was a Boebel in a Mansfield firehouse for eight decades until Capt. Joe Boebel retired about seven months ago. Fittingly, the retired captain pinned the badge on his 19-year-old son’s uniform on Monday.
“It’s family. It’s going down the whole family,” the younger Boebel said when asked why he chose to become a firefighter after graduating from Ontario High School in 2023.
“It’s the next step,” said Boebel, whose grandfather, Don, rose to the rank of captain.
What’s his career goal in the MFD? Chief? Captain?
“I just want to protect and serve,” said Boebel, who played baseball and soccer at OHS before graduating from the Ohio Fire Academy in Columbus.
(Photos from a ceremony on Monday morning at Mansfield Fire Dept. Station No. 1 as four new Mansfield firefighters were sworn in. The story continues below the photo gallery.)
Also sworn in by city Safety Service Director Keith Porch were Lawrence Firmi, Logan Haas and Rocky Sword.
Firmi, 20, a Clear Fork High School graduate, said his father, a staff lieutenant with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, recommended the fire service to him.
“He said it’s one of the best jobs. It’s a great work schedule … great work/life balance. And you get to help people, which is the ultimate benefit,” Firmi said.
So a law enforcement dad recommended firefighting?
“I think I will listen to dad,” the younger Firmi said with a laugh. “He knows a little bit more than me.”
Haas, 20, is a 2022 Lexington High School graduate. Firefighting was also recommended to him.
“I had a neighbor (named) Tom Sneeringer. He was a Mansfield firefighter and I’ve always looked up to him my whole life. He’s been such an impactful person in my life and made me want to pursue firefighting,” Haas said.
The 28-year-old Sword, a Mount Gilead High School graduate, said he worked in other jobs before making his decision.
“I sort of had a career change that has been a little here, a little there. I went to college and decided, I need something a little more physical, a little more hands on than academia,” Sword said.
Porch congratulated all four of the new probationary firefighters.
“Please — from day one to 40 years — never, ever forget your oath. As the (fire) chief says, you will have your ups and downs in your career. But make no mistake, you will impact lives for the better,” Porch said.
MFD Chief Dan Crow told the assembled audience that the four men had chosen a “noble and selfless” position.
“It’s going to require integrity, courage and personal commitment to service,” Crow said. “It says a lot about your character to accept that challenge and to step forward, and it says a lot about your desire to make a positive impact on our community.”
The chief said all four men would spend a week in orientation, culminated with a training exercise. After that, they will be assigned to a station and will function as “extra crew” for their first 30 shifts.
“They’re going to be riding along with the crews and learning all the aspects of being a Mansfield firefighter,” Crow said. “After that, they will be put into our normal rotation and they can be counted toward our daily staffing.”
The four new firefighters, once they are put into the regular schedule, will bring the MFD to 93 sworn firefighters, which is the department’s budgeted strength.
“We’re lucky. These are four really good candidates. They’re all trained at least with their basic firefighter and EMT certification,” Crow said.
“Other than that initial training period, they’re going to start and be impactful for us relatively quickly and we’re excited about that,” the chief said.
In terms of future retention, Crow said it helps all four have ties to the north central Ohio community beyond just their jobs.
“When you’re serving in your own community, this place means something. You’re familiar with it and you’re familiar with the people and and hopefully you have a better bond to the community and to our city.
“That certainly can’t hurt with retention,” Crow said.
