Christiansburg Fire Chief - Jim Epperly

Jim Epperly is living his life-long dream.  He has wanted to fight fires for as long as he can remember.  The Christiansburg Fire Chief has maintained that level of commitment to the town for over 25 years.

Jimmy Epperly took his first ride on a fire truck as a toddler.  Still in diapers, Epperly rode with his uncle, a dedicated member of the Fire Department, in a 4th of July Parade.

"The clang, clang, clang of the alarm always excited me so," he recalls, "It still does".

Epperly always knew he wanted to be part of a volunteer Fire Department and was always fascinated by the way the firefighters, like his uncle, jumped up and left each time the alarm sounded.  He knew all along that line of work was for him.

Born in Christiansburg, Epperly left to go to school in Nashville.  He returned a few years later and applied immediately as a volunteer for the Christiansburg Fire Department.  It was 1965, and he hasn't left yet.

Part of the reason he stayed is his love for the department and its volunteers.  The other part rests in his affection for the area.  "I have always loved Christiansburg," Epperly says, "I'm just an old hometown country boy.  It was home for me and my family was here".

His proudest moment, he remembers, was being accepted into the fire department.  He and his fellow firefighters developed a kinship, a close family-like structure.  That close relationship surely grew stronger because of the time spent together learning about the proper safety techniques and correct use of equipment.  The bond was evidence of the trusting relationship that must be present in order to successfully work as a team under life-and-death circumstances.

As in any high-risk career, the firefighters must learn to deal with loss of life.  "I tried to train myself to cope with losses," says Epperly, "I was told that a good fire officer always maintains his ability to think clearly under adverse conditions".

Another proud moment came when Epperly was promoted to Fire Chief and Fire Marshall in 1972 at age 26.  Later, he was also named President of the State Fire Chiefs of Virginia.

Looking back on his years in the department, Epperly remarks, "I've been here through several chiefs, sheriffs, Commonwealth's attorneys, some good judges and ministers that have helped me when we weren't sure we were doing the right thing and we weren't sure how God go us back here safely".  Faith got them through, however, and the support and advice of colleagues helped to make a positive difference.

Epperly feels the most difficult part of his job is keeping all 29 volunteers happy and working together.  The most fulfilling, however, he says is "to be able to look back over 35 years and see good things we've done, how much we've done and how many people we've helped.  I know how lucky I am to have these guys to do this physical, stressful, draining work".

Jimmy Epperly's just happy keeping Christiansburg safe for its residents.  He is pleased that the town has great administrators and is really looking forward to working with Christiansburg Chief of Police Gary Bradfield.  Epperly notes that a good working relationship within the Fire Department, Police Department and Rescue Squad is extremely important and feels that Christiansburg is fortunate to have good organizations that believe in team work and cooperation.  "It's a team," Epperly says, "You have to work as a team and not let ego get in the way."  He feels that the Christiansburg groups  exemplify that kind of collaboration.

"I'm just a one-step honky-tonk guy," he says.  But his commitment in the community, and to the Fire Department, are proof that Epperly is just what Christiansburg needs.

Note: Article originally printed in the New River Newspapers, LLC on Saturday, February 26, 2000.