Firefighter Spicer!

Well after reading other peoples blogs I realized that I needed to extend mine. After high school I worked for a couple of different jobs before my mission including the ever popular Video Matic Group, a safety shoe retailer as the warehouse manager, and with a landscape/construction company. I of course attended some college at SLCC. I did not have a major in mind so I took a wide array of classes, unfortunately nothing tying together to aide in a degree.

In July of 1998 I headed off to the Guatemala Quetzaltenango mission. I had many life educating experiences during these two years and will never regret having made this decision. After my mission I returned home and continued to date the same girl that I had dated before leaving. Many people ask if Jennifer waited for me I tell them no I just got lucky she had not gotten married while I was gone.

After returning from the mission I worked at a couple of different jobs. The first was an account manager at Rent-A-Center, this only lasted about six weeks as I was tired of people lying to me about their delinquent accounts and making promises they would never keep. Plus after two years of serving people I just did not have it in me to go and repo their belongings. Next I moved onto a career closer to my now dream job as a Firefighter, I was a 911 telephone operator for the local 911 and emergency dispatch center (VECC). Six months after starting at VECC Jennifer and I were married on February 23, 2000.

During my time at VECC I decided that I needed to make some steps toward my goal of becoming Firefighter. I took a class to re-certify my EMT certification, and also sponsored myself through a Fire Academy that was sponsored by West Valley City. After receiving my firefighting education and certifications I started to test with many different agencies throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Also during my tenure at VECC Jennifer and I had our first two children Haylee (5) on April 5th 2002, and Shayla (4) July 8th 2003.

In the spring of 2003 I became a Volunteer / Reserve Firefighter for Sandy City. This was an un-paid position although it allowed me the opportunity to gain some much needed experience. After two and a half years of Volunteer Firefighting and many tests I received full time employment with Sandy City as a Firefighter in the fall of 2005. I continued and still am employed by VECC as a part time (Fire Dispatcher) basically I am on the other end of the two way radio giving the emergency units the details of their response, when I am not responding the call myself. I am also a part time Firefighter for Bluffdale City in the far south end of Salt Lake County. I also have a couple of other odd side jobs although nothing real exciting.

On October 19th of 2006 we had our third child and first son Anthony (A.J.) we currently live in West Valley City close to Centennial Park on 5600 west and 3100 south not far from where Jen and I grew up. This is our third house since being married (we hope to be in this one for a while). Life if very busy with work and the time spent with the family, but I am enjoying it and I am grateful for the decisions and experiences I have made and had over the past ten years.

Joseph (J.C) Spicer

firefighter_spicer@comcast.net