Meet Firefighter/EMT Jaylen McIntyre

Where are you stationed? 
I am currently assigned to Station 14, located on the southeast side of Madison, on the ‘A' shift.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up here in Madison on the north/east side of Madison. I went to Lindbergh Elementary, Blackhawk Middle School, and finished at East High School. So I am very familiar with the east side of Madison, but I have been all around the city. 

What sparked your passion for the fire service and EMS? 
Growing up, like most kids, I wanted to be a firefighter and follow in my father's footsteps. My daughter had a medical emergency at five weeks old, and the way that the firefighters and medics handled the situation while also doing their best to comfort my wife was enough to truly make me realize that I want to be a part of Fire/EMS. 

How would you describe your recruit class?
My recruit class was very diverse, along with very different personalities, but we all became good friends and a family by the end of the academy. Everyone brings good traits and talents to Madison Fire that I think will help benefit any crew they are stationed to. 

How do you see your role within the fire department contributing positively to the Madison community? 
Being born and raised in Madison helps with naturally knowing the territory in our city, along with being around all different types of ethnicity and backgrounds of the people that need our help every day. Also being able to give back to the same people that may have taught you throughout the years. 

I've been on calls where you get to learn more about the patient and you figure out you have gone to the same schools as them. It seems to bring some sense of calmness and gives you something to talk about so they can take their mind off things for a bit. 

What is your earliest memory with a firefighter/EMT or paramedic, and how did it influence your desire to pursue this career? 
Aside from my family visiting my father at the station, when I was in elementary school, [Community Education Officer] Bernadette and many other firefighters set up some fire safety stations, a maze that you had to maneuver through in the dark, fully stretched the tower ladder out, and other activities. Like many other kids, that was a memory that will always stick with me. Wanting to be a person to hopefully give other kids those same memories is one of the reasons I wanted to pursue the MFD.