The tones drop and the alarm sounds…a citizen in our town needs help. There could be flames in their kitchen that are burning through the house. Maybe they're experiencing chest pains or difficulty breathing. It could be a motor vehicle accident, with someone trapped inside their car, hurt and afraid.
Chances are good that it will be Lt. Brad Schuler who pulls on his turnout gear, jumps into the fire engine and responds to the emergency. Schuler, 29 years old, works full time for both Loganville Fire Department (LFD) and Walton County Fire Rescue (WCFR), spending 48 out of 72 hours protecting the members of our community.
“I like the idea of helping people,” said Schuler. “I got into this field because I wanted to be that person, the one who helps people when they need it the most.”
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Schuler, a lifelong resident of Loganville, graduated from Loganville High School in 2000. He has spent the last 10 years working with WCFR and has been with the LFD since 2007, where he holds the rank of Lieutenant.
Schuler is quick to admit that he’s a bit of an adrenaline junkie, a good quality to have when you’re the one running into a building while everyone else is running out. Fighting fire ranks right at the top of his list of why he loves his job.
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“If you love what you do,” Shuler added, “then it’s not like work.”
The worst part of his job is also easy for him to point out – seeing people on their worst days.
“The tragedy that people go through - we see this on a day-to-day basis, We get called because someone is sick, or hurt, or their property is damaged," he said. "We do what we can, but sometimes, it's just not enough.”