“Any change we can make to help firefighters live a healthy life after retirement is worth doing.”

Chief Mike Tucker

Why did you become a firefighter?

Chief Mike Tucker did not initially set out to become a firefighter when he entered the work force. It wasn’t until his friend, who had recently gotten into the fire service, introduced him to the career.

His friend’s passion and excitement for firefighting was enough to sell Tucker on the job. He enrolled at the Florida State Fire College in September of 1985 and he has enjoyed the ride ever since.

“It’s been a great career and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Thirty-six years later, after serving 13 years as Fire Chief of the Villages Public Safety Department, Chief Tucker is the Superintendent and Bureau Chief of the Florida State Fire College in Ocala, FL.

In 2011, he was recognized as the Fire Chief of the Year in the state of Florida by the Florida Fire Chief’s Association. “Standing with the prior award recipients, individuals that I had idolized throughout my career, was phenomenal,” Chief Tucker reflected.

The following year, Chief Tucker earned Southeast United States Fire Chief of the Year in 2012. He credits the team around him, especially his deputy chief of operations and training captain. He also believes his current success as Superintendent is directly attributable to his team at the Fire Colleges, especially the Assistant Superintendent.

What advice do you have for other firefighters?

“Becoming a firefighter isn’t a ‘one-and-done’ deal,” Chief Tucker emphasized. “You must always be willing to learn and grow.”

It is very clear that the fire service is changing rapidly and because of that, firefighters must adapt with it.

“It’s not just about you. It’s also about the crew you work with, the department you work for, and the community you serve.”

Two of the areas Chief Tucker recommends firefighters always put time into learning are hands-on experience and school studies.

College degrees are becoming more prevalent in the fire service and some states are compensating firefighters for their efforts to build upon their foundation of knowledge. The Florida Supplemental Compensation Program distributes around $11 million each year to firefighters in the state of Florida for earning associate and bachelor’s degrees.

Chief Tucker had to pay for much of his college degrees on his own, but he’s pleased to see the shift in how the college degrees are encouraged now.

When a fire chief meets with government officials, it’s likely that every other person in that meeting has at least a bachelor’s degree. For the fire chief, having that degree gives him or her the immediate credibility amongst peers as well as a richer foundation of knowledge to work with.

What changes do you foresee in the fire service?

Moving forward, first responders have to adapt to the changing demands of the community.

Community paramedicine is one of the most impactful changes that the fire service is adopting to take some weight off the shoulders of hospitals.

Additionally, community-based programs are critical in developing relationships and gaining support from the community. “When you respond to an emergency, you don’t have time to build rapport,” Chief Tucker noted. “It’s hard to be nice and build relationships when life or death decisions are being made.“

While Chief Tucker was the chief of the Villages Public Safety Department, they trained 2,000 citizens each year to become CPR-certified for free. This fostered good relationships with the community while giving them tools to help the fire department provide assistance.

Do you think the approach to fighting fires will change in the future?

“The offensive attack will never and should never go away,” Chief Tucker’s feedback is comforting to most firefighters. “You should be ready to attack every fire with an offensive mindset but keep your head on a swivel and be willing to pull back if necessary.”

In addition to the implementation of drones to fight fires, Chief Tucker is excited about improved training with new technology. Advances in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) open the door for training firefighters in a safer environment. Chief Tucker is optimistic about these tools, but he made it clear that no virtual training can replace the real deal.

“The goal is not to encourage firefighters to back off, but to allow them to develop their skills in a safe environment,” Chief Tucker stated. “Any change we can make to help firefighters live a healthy life after retirement is worth doing.”

What advice do you have for others who are dealing with cancer?

First, Chief Tucker encourages others to be diligent about their checkups and look into issues that arise. “The longer you wait, the more your chances of survival decrease,” Chief Tucker pointed out.

His second piece of advice is to fight hard.

“If you’re faced with a cancer diagnosis, lean into it. Focus on the battle, set your goals, and get through it.”

“Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to people,” Chief Tucker had many people who were there to check on him and make sure he was in the right mental space. He credits his support group for helping him get through his battle with cancer.

“Knowing that people care about you is critical to helping you get through cancer.”

Most journeys have many ups and downs. In the fire service, however, the “ups” are higher and the “downs” are lower. “It’s easy to fixate on the downs, but work hard to focus on the positives,” Chief Tucker encourages other firefighters.

Early in his career, Tucker was stationed at Reedy Creek Emergency Services, which provides emergency services to the Walt Disney complex. One call that he’ll never forget took place in a women’s bathroom at one of the Disney theme parks.

Someone gave birth in the bathroom and then ran away, leaving the newborn baby in the toilet.

The crew was able to save the baby and make sure she was taken care of. Chief Tucker is proud to have played a role in saving that baby’s life and giving her the opportunity to find a family and grow up to be healthy.

“It’s easy to get knocked down by the job but don’t succumb to that. It is important to recognize the good that you do as a firefighter.”