HICKORY, NC (January 23, 2019) — A promotional ceremony was recently held for firefighters.
Chris Allison (Promoted to Captain)
Chris Allison has been promoted to Captain. Prior to employment with the Hickory Fire Department on February 2013, Allison served as a volunteer firefighter with Hudson Volunteer Fire Department, where he has been a member for 21 years. He is certificated as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) through the North Carolina Office of Emergency Services. Allison is also certified by NC Fire & Rescue Commission in the following areas: Firefighter level II, Hazardous Materials Operations Level and Technical Rescue. He has completed the Fire Officer Program levels 1-3 and is certified as a level I Fire & Life Safety Educator. Allison is also certified as an Instructor in the areas of EMT, Fire, and Technical Rescue. He is also certified as a LP Gas Instructor. In 2015, Allison obtained his Associates Degree in Fire Protection Technology through Coastal Carolina Community College. He is married to Kim and they have five children Lexi, Trevor, Avery, Landon and Zach.
Kole Street (Promoted to Captain)
Kole Street has been promoted to Captain. Street was hired as a firefighter for the department on June 1, 2012. He has completed training as a Level II firefighter through the North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission and has completed training in many areas including Hazardous Materials certification at both Awareness and Operations levels, Technical Rescue, Emergency Vehicle Driver, and STICO (Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Operations). He is certified as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) through the North Carolina Office of Emergency Services. In June 2018, he graduated from Cleveland Community College with an Associate degree in Fire Protection Technology. Street has also completed the ICS (Incident Command System) training through FEMA and Catawba Valley Community College. In February 2015, he completed the Fire Service Instructor certification and in 2016 the Fire Officer program levels 1 and 2. His parents are Jody and Darla Street, a brother, Dylan and is married to Lindsi.
Robert Arrington (Promoted to Captain)
Robert Arrington has been promoted to Captain. Arrington was hired on February 16, 2008. He is certified as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) through the North Carolina Office of Emergency Services and a Level II Firefighter through the North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission. He has completed training in many areas including Hazardous Materials certification at the awareness and operations levels, Fire & Life Safety Educator level 1, Fire Service Instructor Levels I and II, Advanced Firefighter certification and has completed the NC Breathing Equipment School. Arrington has also completed training in the following areas: Chief 101 certification, Fire Officer level I and II, National Fire Academy Leadership I, II, and III. He is a Technical Rescuer and a Level II Rescue Instructor. His rescue specialties include Ropes and Surface Water. He is married to Charity and has a daughter Lauren and a stepson, Dillon.
Rich Jenkins (Promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator)
Rich Jenkins has been promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator. He was hired as a firefighter on July 1, 2009. Jenkins has certifications in the areas of level II Firefighter, Level II Fire Officer, Level II General Instructor, Level I Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue, Emergency Medical Technician, Fire & Life Safety Educator, Driver Operator EVD, and Rapid Intervention Team.
In 2012, Jenkins graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science in Fire Safety Engineering Technology. He also graduated from Catawba Valley Community College in 2008 with an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology.
In 2015, Jenkins was recognized by the Western North Carolina Association of Fire Fighters for Dedicated Service to the Department for outstanding leadership and guidance on technical innovations and integrations within Hickory Fire Department.
Jenkins was also President of Hickory Fire Fighter’s Association from 2016 to 2018.
Pete Suthers (Promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator)
Pete Suthers has been promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator. He was hired as a firefighter on July 1, 1998. He has completed training as a Level II firefighter through the North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission and has completed training in many areas including Hazardous Materials certification at both Awareness and Operations levels, Technical Rescue, Emergency Vehicle Driver, Fire & Life Safety Educator, and a Fire Service Instructor. He is certified as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) through the North Carolina Office of Emergency Services. Suthers has also completed level I and II \Fire Officer Program. Pete is married to Claire and has two daughters. Hailey who is in the USN based in San Diego, and younger daughter Maggie is a junior at St Stephens High School.
Jordan Clark (Promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator)
Jordan Clark has been promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator. He was hired on July 1, 2009 as a firefighter. Through the North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission, he has certifications as a Firefighter level II, Hazardous Materials Operations level and Technical Rescuer. He is also specialized in the area of Diver training. Clark has also completed training as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). He also serves as a firefighter with Grace Chapel. Jordan and his wife, Caroline have two children Dylan and Annalyn.