Meet Dev Kannan, Western Salisbury Volunteer Firefighter

Name: Dev Kannan

Age: 31

Lives: Salisbury Township

Family: Married to Cynthia Kannan, four children, ages 13 to 3.

Job: Tractor-trailer driver.

Fire company: Western Salisbury Fire Department. Kannan is deputy fire chief and chief engineer.

Training so far: More than 40 classes, including certifications in Firefighter 1 & 2, Hazardous Materials Operations, Fire Officer 1, Fire Instructor 1, Fire Inspector and Fire Investigator, Driver-Operator Aerial and Pumper, and Fire and Life Safety Educator.

What's it like being a firefighter? It’s enjoyable and very rewarding. You can help people out of bad situations. As chief engineer, I’m responsible for the maintenance and repair of all of our fire apparatus. As deputy fire chief, sometimes I’m in charge of a fire scene if the chief isn’t there.

How do your loved ones feel about you putting your life in danger? This was part of my life when my wife met me, she didn’t have a choice, but there are times when it is very taxing on our family. There are times that it is very inopportune for a fire call to come in.

Tell us a story you'll never forget about your firefighting experience. What I will remember the most is Jack Kelly’s funeral. He was a firefighter with us for 49 years, 36 as the fire chief. There were more fire trucks at his funeral than in the four-county parade. The feeling of pride and respect and brotherhood that day was unbelievable.

What would you tell people interested in joining your fire company: You get a lot out of it, in addition to serving the public. We are a very close-knit group, and you make lifelong friendships.