Dexter Grad Named 'Firefighter of the Year'

A Dexter High School graduate has been named the “Firefighter of the Year” by the Scio Township Fire Department.

Taylor Buchanan, a 19-year-old firefighter who has been with the department since 2012, describes firefighting as a “passion” and says each day is different, the Dexter Leader reports.

“I absolutely love coming to work every morning,” he says. “You never know what you’re going to run into …”

Buchanan graduated from Dexter High School in 2012. He enrolled in the Pittsfield Fire Academy his senior year and joined the Scio Township Fire Department after finishing that course of study. He said he was influenced to pursue the career by his firefighting father, Lt. Jeffrey Buchanan, and remembers being impressed by the gravity of his job even as a young boy.

“I remember the first time I was a little kid and my dad took me to a fire call,” the younger Buchanan said. “There are plenty of pictures of me running around (the department) as a little kid, around the fire truck. It’s surreal being on them so often now.”

He hopes to become an officer with the department and is currently working toward EMT certification. He says he’ll continue to take advantage of advanced certification opportunities so he’ll be ready if an opportunity to become an officer becomes available.

“It’s full steam ahead in preparing myself in every way possible for when that opportunity comes around to have my best shot at it,” he said.