Crawfordsville’s newest firefighter is the next generation in his family to suit up to answer the call.
Kolten Cromwell was sworn in to the department Wednesday at the City Building following the board of public works and safety meeting, with his family looking on.
The 2017 Western Boone graduate’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather have all served as firefighters in Advance, where Cromwell will remain a volunteer. He is the fifth firefighter on Crawfordsville’s squad to have graduated from the fire and rescue classes as part of the West Central Indiana Career and Technical Education Cooperative. Cromwell went on to earn a fire science degree from Ivy Tech Community College.
“I want to join CFD to start my career in the fire service,” Cromwell said. “This opportunity helps me achieve a lifetime goal of being a career firefighter.”
The career and technical education cooperative helps serve as a pipeline for local fire and EMS departments. Students are trained how to treat live burns, explore the science behind combating fires, practice drills and later ride along with ambulance crews.
Cromwell is at least the sixth firefighter to join the department in the past year.
