Twin Birmingham firefighters graduated from Jackson-Olin High School in 2007 and Will return to their alma mater on Feb. 28 to discuss fire department careers
(Birmingham, AL) – Whenever a big, red fire engine roared into their Ensley community, twins Rodney and Roderick Myers couldn’t wait to ride their bikes to the scene.
They weren’t there to put out fires. Instead, the twins stood on the sidelines to watch Birmingham fire fighters battle blazes and help the injured. Seeing such action as children only confirmed what they had known since the age of 5 – that working as a Birmingham fire fighter was the only job for them.
Rodney and Roderick graduated from Jackson-Olin High School in 2007. And by 2008, they had passed tests to become a firefighter. This July will mark their 10-year anniversary with Birmingham Fire and Rescue.
And just like how Birmingham firefighters mentored them when they were at Jackson-Olin, Rodney and Roderick want to do the same on Wednesday, Feb. 28 when they will return to Jackson-Olin to participate in a career fair and discuss what it’s like to work for the department. The career fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school. (The principal is Shirley Burrell.)
“This is not our first career fair. We’ve done them in past,’’ said Rodney, 29. “But we participate in these because we believe it’s important for students to see us and hear from us.”
“When the firefighters got off the trucks, they showed us respect,’’ said Rodney, 29. “It didn’t matter that we lived in public housing. They were all about the job at hand. And they taught us how to be men. We liked that.’’
While in high school, the twins got involved in the Explorer Program to gain hands-on training as they went to scenes with fire fighters. (They never entered a burning building as a teenager.) And even though they were serious about their career choice, some friends told them they’d never be firefighters because of where they lived.
The twins knew better.
“I will never take anything from growing up in public housing because it made me the man I am today, but it doesn’t define the man I am,’’ Roderick said. “This is why it’s important for us to show students that no matter your background, you can do whatever you want.’’
“When we were kids, those firefighters showed us the tireless effort and dedication they had for the job. They gave their best, which instilled in me to give my best in school and as a firefighter,’’ Roderick said.
Roderick, the oldest by one minute, works at Station No. 14 at Legion Field. Rodney works downtown at Station No. 6.
“We don’t come to work to make the news,’’ Roderick said. “We come to work to serve the citizens in Birmingham.’’
