Long standing traditions within families often revolve around holidays and reunions, but for a few South Zanesville families, the tradition runs a little deeper than annual pumpkin carving.

South Zanesville Fire Department Captain J.T. Roberts has been on staff with the volunteer fire department since 2009, but as a kid, he spent just as much time running around the firehouse thanks to his father.

John Roberts, Jr., J.T.’s father, shares a similar story as his son’s. He’s been on the fire department for 28 years but he also grew up around the sirens as his father sparked the family involvement in the SZVFD.

Many years later, four members and three generations of Roberts have served on the department, three of them currently, including J.T.’s wife, Heather.

“I was forced,” Heather said amongst laughter when she talked about joining the family business three years ago.

The Roberts family isn’t alone in their family tradition. John Roberts Sr.’s best friend, Jim Hunt, was also a firefighter that has been followed by a couple generations of his own.

Jeff Hunt, the Secretary and Treasurer of the SZVFD, has been chasing fires for the department for 31 years and two years ago, his daughter, Kim Minosky, joined him, as well.

“It’s kind of the family business,” Hunt said as a reaction to Minosky listing off her brother, who is a firefighter in Colorado, uncles, cousins and nephews that followed in the firefighting footsteps.

“I wanted to join years ago, but he kind of wouldn’t let me ‘cause I’m the only daughter,” Minosky said.

“Actually, I never knew you had an interest,” Hunt replied.

“At the time, like there wasn’t that many females really doing firefighting or EMT for here. So, when I turned 30, they were needing people, and Dad was like, ‘Hey, if you want to try it, if you think you can do it,’” Monosky said.

“You guys actually moved into the district, and she said, ‘Yeah, I’d like to do it,’” Hunt added.

“It was tough, it was very. I thought I was going to die,” Minosky said as all the firefighter around her laughed in a knowing way that only firefighters who have gone through the training understand.

Following suit

A photo of eight men, four sons each in front of their fathers, with a news article under it, hangs among many photos and moments passed adorning the back, upstairs wall of the firehouse. Two of the young men in the photo are John Roberts, Jr. and Jeff Hunt.

“It’s the public service, giving back to the community,” Hunt said. “And like you (John Roberts, Jr.) said, once you start it’s hard to stop.”

With the exception of Heather Roberts, who married into the tradition, all of the family members grew up around the fire department. Whether at fundraisers, hanging out with their dads or chasing the fire trucks down the street, they have all been familiar with the business long before they were able to officially be involved.

“Her first run, how old were you like 7 or 8? In the backseat of my car I was at the car wash and I heard the sirens going off and floored, and I had a Camaro flying down Maysville Pike and she’s on the floor like, ‘Oh my god!’” Hunt said.

Although carrying on the tradition of fire fighting is important, John Roberts, Jr. said that being a volunteer firefighter is drastically different than being on a paid staff.

Since there is not always enough staff to go around, the volunteers can be called away from their personal lives at some inconvenient times.

“It’s something where, if the tones go off, then somebody is needing you,” John Roberts, Jr. said.

Hunt echoes Roberts’ feelings that people are oftentimes in a lot of need when the department goes out on a call.

“Yeah, you’re meeting somebody out there on probably one of the worst days of their life at that point, and you’re able to soften that blow somehow or help,” Hunt said.

Softening the blow goes a little further than simply joining the department because of other family members. Being a volunteer firefighter allows these members to give back to their community in a meaningful way.

“You love what you do, and, at the same time, you’re giving back to your community, your neighbors, your friends, your family,” J.T. Roberts said. “Most of the times if you go on a call, at least I know for me, go on a call around here and you walk in and they know me by first name or you walk in and they go, “Are you John John’s boy, are you a Roberts?”

Confidence in each other

When their children first joined the department, Hunt and Roberts said they treated them just like new recruits, which they keep an eye on, anyway.

“It’s scary as a parent,” John Robert, Jr. said. “You don’t want them to go out here and get hurt.”

Fortunately, just as other firefighters earn their way in a department, both families have gained full confidence in one another.

Hunt and Minosky are the first father-daughter duo the department has ever had since its formation in 1924.

According to J.T. Roberts, there weren’t any women on the SZVFD until 2011. The first woman on the department has since moved on to work as a firefighter in another township, but Heather Roberts and Minosky were happy to follow in her footsteps.

“I feel like we just fit in,” Heather Roberts said.

“I don’t see it like being male or female,” Minosky said in agreement with Roberts. “You just do it.”

Both Hunt and John Roberts, Jr. spent a lot of time on the department when it was comprised of only men. As the times have changed, their confidence hasn’t wavered with the addition of the women.

“From what I can see, and (I’ve) been around a long time, both of them have earned their stripes,” Hunt said. “They didn’t ask for any special treatment, and they figured out ways, if they weren’t big enough to do something they figured out other ways around it. They have earned their way to be here.”

While blood connects these few members of the department, the atmosphere among all the firefighters feels like one large family, Minosky said.

Many memories have been made over the years between these families and their honorary members, and both families hope that the tradition will be carried on through their children and grandchildren.