Anyone who knows or has met the Funkhouser men, including Eric and his 19-year-old twin sons, Caleb and Dylan, will wholeheartedly agree they’re enthusiastic about their firefighter careers and making an impact on society.
As patriarch of the family, Eric did not set out with a life goal to be a firefighter. He was a college student when his mother pointed out an ad in the newspaper seeking volunteer fire department personnel. He started a position as a volunteer earning $5 an hour. Through the years, he found that his love for firefighting outweighed work as an electrician, and once he reached the necessary pay rank to support a family, he fully pursued his career, working his way up through the ranks. Today he is fire chief for the Bargersville Community Fire Department. On October 1, he will have served 25 years in the industry.
As young boys, Caleb and Dylan listened and watched. They listened to their father tell stories of his days at work, and they would watch the department’s year-end videos repeatedly. Eric gives his wife, Brooke, credit for creating an atmosphere where they can talk about their day, and openly discuss the good and the bad associated with their jobs.[Text Wrapping Break]
Caleb and Dylan started pursuing their careers even while in high school. They finished their Firefighter 1 and 2 courses the summer before their first year of college, and finished their basic emergency medical technician course at the end of their first year at Franklin College. With the goal of finishing their college courses in time, they now plan to focus on what they love most. Both accepted full-time positions with Monroe Fire Protection District on April 1, 2024.
Dylan recalled a particularly busy week recently, where the department had three working fires and a car fire. When asked about the stress involved with the job, Dylan says it is crucial to “stay clear headed all the time. You get called out on a job in a moment, and you just go out and do your job. Afterwards you think, ‘Guys, that was crazy what just happened.’” He adds that on the job, everyone has a task and a game plan is in place.
Not every run is a success story. Caleb points out that “you have to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.”
“I love what I do,” Eric adds. “When people call in on their worst day ever, when they are dialing 911, I am able to be on the opposite end and help those people.”