Marble Falls fire captain gives niece first-hand look at rescue career on summer visit
Marble Falls Fire Rescue Capt. Coy Guenter (left) gave his niece Michala DePamphilis a chance to experience the life of a firefighter when the 18-year-old spent a shift with him and his crew July 10. Courtesy photo
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — When Michala DePamphilis arrived earlier in July from Connecticut to visit family, she was looking forward to lots of time at the lake, some golfing and other “normal” summer activities.
But when your uncle is Marble Falls Fire Rescue Capt. Coy Guenter, you can expect something different. And on July 10-11, Guenter threw her a curve when he invited his niece to spend a shift with him and his crew at Marble Falls Fire Rescue.
“I was completely surprised,” DePamphilis said. “It was a great way to spend the last week here.”
DePamphilis, 18, is no stranger to firefighting. She recently completed a fire cadet academy in Connecticut and has been exploring a career as a firefighter. She has an uncle and aunt back home who are firefighters as well.
Guenter saw the opportunity to show his niece what life was like in a firehouse and what the crew does throughout the day.
“She wants to be a career firefighter, so this seemed like a chance to give her a taste of it,” Guenter said.
While “on duty,” DePamphilis underwent daily training with the crew. The firefighters showed her how to handle the various equipment, including air packs. She even rode out on calls, including a major house fire in Granite Shoals on July 10.
But she never went near the blaze or donned bunker gear.
“We have a protocol for these, so she was always back off and safe,” Guenter said.
She wasn’t just watching though.
DePamphilis doled out water, handed out equipment and helped firefighters change air packs and other things. And when it was all done, she rolled up fire hoses.
Despite the heat and the hard and dirty work, DePamphilis still looks to become a full-fledge firefighter in the future. The experience with her uncle and the Marble Falls Fire Rescue crew only cemented that goal.
“The experience made me realize I really want to become a firefighter,” she said. DePamphilis plans on studying fire science in college and, hopefully, to land a spot in a fire department.
Plus, she got to spend some time with an uncle she doesn’t see but every couple of years.
“This is something I’ll remember for a lifetime,” Guenter said. “I got to hand down a little knowledge and spend some great quality time with her.”
daniel@thepicayune.com