December 3, 2025
It鈥檚 not often you get to live out your childhood dreams. Landon, a volunteer firefighter/EMT for Crete Fire & Rescue, gets to do it almost every day.
鈥淓ver since I was a six-year-old kid, I鈥檝e always loved firefighters. I still have an old toy fire truck that I used to play with at my house,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 just idolized them so much.鈥�
Landon jumped at the chance to serve his hometown when he saw that his local fire department was seeking volunteers.
鈥淚 looked at these brave men and women with so much admiration when I was little that I thought, 鈥榊ou know what? I鈥檒l give it a shot.鈥� I wanted to see if I could live up to that image as an adult.鈥�
As he put out fires and responded to medical emergencies in his community, Landon discovered more about the different professions within the fire service. In learning about the job of a fire marshal, he saw a connection between his criminal justice classes and his firefighting experience that shifted his career goals.
鈥淯nderstanding the fire marshal鈥檚 role has really drawn me in further 鈥� it combines law enforcement and criminal justice with firefighting,鈥� Landon says. 鈥淩ight now, I鈥檓 really getting both the experience and the education to pursue that role after graduation.鈥�
One major part of his Husker education that鈥檚 helping Landon prepare? All the writing he鈥檚 done.
鈥淲hen I first joined, I didn鈥檛 realize how important writing would be in fire/EMS,鈥� Landon shares. 鈥淚鈥檝e gained so many essential skills in the department, but writing is the number one skill I鈥檝e practiced in my major that鈥檚 helping me prepare to be a fire marshal.鈥�
Even as he looks ahead to a future in firefighting, he鈥檚 still trying to enjoy what he鈥檚 already achieved.
鈥淚n a lot of ways, I'm living the dream right now: I'm putting out fires, I'm driving fire trucks, I鈥檓 helping patients in the back of ambulances. I鈥檓 very fortunate to work alongside so many heroes and couldn鈥檛 ask for a better outcome.鈥�
Landon is a senior criminology and criminal justice major from Crete, 91茄子.