Joel C Kelley

Male

Kurtistown, HI

United States

Profile Information:

Type of Organization
Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer
Job Function
Firefighter
Years in Fire/EMS:
Twenty three
Primary Fire/EMS Department:
Hawaiian Acres Fire Department, Kurtistown, Hawaii
Years With Department/Agency
5
Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations
Wheat Ridge F.D., Colorado.
Hondo V.F.D., Santa Fe County, New Mexico.
My Training:
FF 1 & 2, New Mexico and Colo.
Fire Officer 1, New Mexico
S-130, S-190, S-290 USDA forestry.
USFS I.C.S.
Holmatro rescue tools Cert.
EMT-B, New Mexico & Colo.,
EMT-I, New mexico.
PHTLS
ACLS
Hazmat Responder 1 & 2 Colorado and New Mexico.
CEVO II
About Me:
Too many years ago to count, about 20, My friend borrowed my folk's car to go on a date. While DUI, he totalled the car and killed his date. The State took no action, so I did. I set about to make things cosmically right by joining the volunteer department that responded to the call. They were the best! I could not have gotten better training if I had gotten into a paid academy. I made Lieutenant in three years and after two years in that position, thought I might try to go paid, so I moved to Denver. Four years trying to compete in that climate of "do anything to get the job", left me tired and burnt out, realizing I just wanted to Volunteer. When I moved to Hawaii this year, that option came again open, and here I am, on Engine Company 5-B in Hawaii County, and proud of it!
Day Job:
Mauna Kea Ranger
Relationship Status:
Married
Why I Joined Fire/EMS
To help get right with the universe and to give myself a challenge.
Why I Love Fire/EMS
Being able to make a difference in my community
Top Issues Facing Responders:
The disparity between union and non union departments, Guaranteeing good recruits in volunteer departments, funding in small departments with small tax bases, good training.

Comment Wall:

  • Joe Totero

    Welcome back, Brother! Looks like you got a long hard road ahead of you. Stay determined, do what needs to be done. I wish ya the best of luck. if ya need anything, give me a shout.

    Joe

    Sep 20, 2007

  • Wayne Mitchell

    Hi Joel, thanks for the add... Have a great day!!!

    Sep 30, 2007

  • cynthia ehlers

    Glad to hear things are looking up for you and the department..

    Oct 9, 2007

  • boodah!

    shi yo, osda sunale! hello and good day. greetings from tsalagi my brother!

    Oct 12, 2007

  • Allen Wahlstrom

    ummm...it's Mick Bastard...get it right! for the love of Pete!

    Nov 3, 2007

  • Wendy Neumeyer

    Hey Joel, I'll collect the information on the grants we've written for you. I'm going to show off the site at our training on Wednesday. The main thing I can tell you right off the top about getting a grant through is a "special" need. We have a dam nearby that is only serviced by our department, which secured the OHS and FEMA grants for us

    Nov 12, 2007

  • Rik Helldatshot

    Hey Joel or should I say "ALOHA",( thats the 1st time I've ever said that to a Hawaiian before, cool!not many here in Missisip' ) I apprciated hearing from you and I will keep you informed. Its on schedule an should open officially when we have our state SCV convention June '08. Although the library suffered only 1st floor destruction its going to have to be rebuilt starting next yr. I'll be happy to send ya an update every now an then. Take care!

    Nov 13, 2007

  • Martin Moore

    Giving Thanks
    More Graphics at pYzam.com

    Nov 21, 2007

  • MICHAEL

    HAY I GROW UP IN FRUITA, COLORADO

    Nov 28, 2007

  • Rik Helldatshot

    ALOHA Brother ! jus checkin on ya , Hope life is good yer way !

    Dec 2, 2007

  • Delayne Webster

    Hey Joel just droped in to say ALOHA from ga. stay safe an happy holidays.

    Dec 10, 2007

  • Rhonda

    Hello Joel...Stay Safe & Happy New Year

    Jan 1, 2008

  • Ropate Daucakacaka Pareti

    Bula Joe C Kelly. Greetings from the Fiji Islands! Thank you for the add, and hope that all is well there. Best wishes and kind regards.

    Cheers!

    Jan 13, 2008

  • KOA ISHIKAWA

    ME AND ACOULE OF DA BRADDA'S FROM HAWAII LIVE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND WE WORKED AS USFS WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS. WE STARTED UP A CREW AND THERE IS FIFTEEN OF US. WE ALL FLY HAWAIIAN FLAGS ON OUR TRUCKS AS A REMINDER FROM WHERE WE ARE FROM.

    Jan 17, 2008

  • Rik Helldatshot

    Alloha ! Beach Boy ! How you doing? Sittin here @#6 cookin' some soap an cornbread for the Boys. Been BZ around here, how about ya'll ? Have a Great Weekend Pardner !

    Jan 17, 2008

  • KOA ISHIKAWA

    WE ARE BASED OUT OF RAPID CITY, BUT WE SERVE ALL OF THE BLACK HILLS AND SOUTH DAKOTA. WHAT REZ DO THEY LIVE AT?

    Jan 17, 2008

  • Robin Inman

    Hello Joel,

    Just wanted to drop a quick e-mail and say "Hello", I was checking out who was on-line and accidentally clicked on your picture and I caught that your home town is Cortez, Colorado. My Grandparents lived in Dove Creek, Colorado while I was growing up.....I usually don't see too many folks from that part of the world so I just wanted to say "Howdy". I always laugh when I think about Dove Creek.....the first time I took my husband down there to visit and we turned on highway 666, he said "You got to be kidding me, they actually gave a highway that number?" I had to remind him this was the same state with a city named Purgatory. lol

    Feb 9, 2008

  • Mike W.

    The costume from "Gangs of New York" is purported to be fairly authentic. I have a parade belt for the Americus Fire Company that I purchased from Dell Leather. It is a Civil War Zouave parade belt for the same fire company that was depicted the movie.

    Feb 12, 2008

  • Rik Helldatshot

    ALOHA You ol'Son of a gun you! You haven't fell of into one of those Volcanos over there have ya? The Presidents house has been taken care off now so go to the MS DIV SCV an check it out! Hope your Well,Take care!

    Apr 20, 2008

  • aiwohi

    Aloha braddah, greeting from da valley isle!

    May 6, 2008

  • Tony P

    G'day Joel. Another day passes and I learn something new - love it! About six months ago I saw a map detailing the percentage split for each state of the USA - career/volunteer firefighters. Hawaii was shown as ZERO for volunteers; today I see a comment of yours on a forum which fixed that misconception.
    So, are there many volunteer departments in Hawaii? Do they all get that 5 minute later call to jobs in their own area?

    May 15, 2008

  • ROB ELLIOTT

    hey there hows it going there all safe well i am just dropping you a message to say hello ande wondering if you would be able to send me some patches for my collection and i will return you some and here is my postal address 8 scobie cres bellambi nsw 2518 australia

    May 17, 2008

  • Tony P

    Well Joel - your service certainly doesn't look after you does it! There are people with the same attitude over here as well. Luckily for us our own fire service and the State govt know that we are so much less expensive than a wholly career service, the State couldn't afford the same level of fire cover without us. We're not trying to take any career jobs, but some of them would like to be taking our Stations, at least those like mine in the outer suburbs of the state capital. They see that as providing more jobs for them and therefore more chance for promotion - I can understand their view but don't agree with it. (I stress that it's only some people)

    My service has around 60,000 volunteers with about 600 career helping us with the busier stations (combined vol and career). Mine is one of the not-so-busy outer suburban stations with around 300 calls a year - all fire/rescue, no EMS. (For us a call is when we are paged out, not related to how many trucks we roll). And I wouldn't want there to be too many more calls than we get now!

    Keep working on it mate, get the public on your side. You should be properly equipped!

    May 18, 2008

  • Leo Cartwright

    Hi Joel; Question Please; do you know a Patricia Dukes MICTa friend of mine? If so please say hello. Thanks

    Leo

    May 22, 2008

  • Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd

    Had the chance to spend time on your beautiful island bro, in fact 14 times... I taught fire code stuff and really enjoyed being the first howlee (spelling?) to teach fire code to the four counties in Hawaii. Sounds like you are on a mission to be better outfitted and prepared. My department does a ton of wildland and my station is on the pacific coast, a couple of miles down the coast from Hollister Ranch (assuming that you surf, this is a pretty well known place). Anyway, dealing with most of the stuff you have in your 1st in has been researched and refined since we started doing wildland in 1926. So tell me what you need, and how can help a brother. Stay safe. Mike

    Jul 31, 2008

  • surfeveryday

    Hey howsit! Ya this site is pretty good i just discovered it. I'm with Honolulu FD. stay safe on the big isle.

    Aug 22, 2008

  • Gary

    Kurtistown rocks - My uncle lives on "ATE" road out in Hawaiian acres...

    I was there this year - wanted to go see Kurtistown Fire, but my wife kept me busy..

    Small world -

    Sep 21, 2008

  • BillySFCVFD

    Hi Joel,

    Good luck with that. At least you're living in paradise. Hope it's not a Hoali vs native thing. I've been to HI and love it. Guess it's different living there. How the heck did you end up there? Post military or a woman? Both is how I ending up in TX from CA. Billy TCSS

    Oct 8, 2008

  • BillySFCVFD

    Thanks for correcting my Hoale spelling. Since I am one I should be able to spell it. haha. Does your VFD have an area where only you are due if mutual aid is not needed? If so the career guys should help with clean up out of courtesy. We are all VFDs here so them vs us doesn't exist and we show respect for the dept called first with help, clean up or FFing. God bless you for sticking it out and serving. TCSS

    Oct 8, 2008

  • ROB ELLIOTT

    rob elliott
    8 scobie crescent bellambi nsw 2518
    australia

    Nov 11, 2008

  • krys

    Hey Joel,
    Thanks for the note! Hawaii seems like the other side of the world to me... must be beautiful tho...
    Stay safe

    Dec 9, 2008

  • Glyne Alleyne

    Hi Joel thanks for stopping by, on behalf of all the members of the Barbados Fire Service I extend Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year. Lookin forward to corresponding with you.

    Dec 9, 2008

  • krys

    well, that explains where all our dispatchers are going.... :)

    Dec 9, 2008

  • Daniel Robert Garvin

    Hey Joel! Would you swap a patch with a Canadian? Aloha buddy!!! Stay safe.

    Daniel

    Dec 13, 2008

  • Daniel Robert Garvin

    Hi Joel! I will send it off tomorrow. Remember to stay safe out there buddy!!! If you have any used patches laying around, I prefer them because there is a history behind them! Later dude!!

    Daniel

    Jan 2, 2009

  • josh sare

    hey, my name is josh and interested in becoming a fire fighter in hawaii county. just curious if you got any advice or pointers. i currently live in paridise park.

    Mar 17, 2009

  • alex

    hi mate its alex from victoria austraila just looking for someone to chat to.. over here on the 7. 3. 09 we had a big fire that took out over 2000 homes and killed 210 still rateld as a vol

    Mar 18, 2009

  • Chad King

    How is everything in Hawaii? Typical spring day here in New York. Mid - 50"s and they are still forecasting snow. Take Care. Do you guys have any unique fire apparatus that helps get the job done in the islands as opposed to in the states?

    Mar 18, 2009