Fire & Resilience
Somewhere around 2020, my life took an odd turn. We had moved to a rural enclave on the northern fringe of the Catskills in upstate New York. Everywhere I went, I saw firehouses with signs out front fairly begging for volunteers to fight fires and run ambulance calls. I soon realized that this was a genuine crisis unfolding across America. I decided to write a story about it and in the process, it hit me: why not me? For starters, I was well into my 60s. But so, it seemed, were many -- if not most -- of the people answering the alarms. Thence began a journey that has become a kind of personal crusade to promote civic engagement and volunteerism. It's also been some of the most fun and rewarding work that I've done.
VOLUNTEERING
New Career After 60: Firefighter? Really? (Part 1)
The world’s oldest probationary firefighter, or probie, explains why he volunteered for the difficult and dangerous job.
Next Avenue
Photo: Reed Galin
VOLUNTEERING
"Becoming a Firefighter in Retirement" (Part 2)
Part 2 of my story about a 67-year-old newbie firefighter who grabs the brass ring — or nozzle — by attending a boot camp for volunteers.
Next Avenue
The author training to be a volunteer firefighter in upstate New York. Photo: Craig Miller
EXTERNAL COVERAGE
A new start after 60: I was hoping for a quiet retirement, but instead I became a firefighter
The Guardian reports “When Craig Miller moved from California to the Catskill mountains in upstate New York in 2019, the freelance journalist wanted to get away from traffic jams and wildfires and enjoy a quieter pace of life…”
The Guardian
Craig Miller at his fire station. Photo: Richard Beaven/The Guardian