F A C E
S
of
H E A
L T H
Captain Jill Staaf
O U R D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 I N S P I R AT I O N
Keep
in
Us Sa g
fe
In the spirit
of the season, remember those in the community who graciously give of themselves to
protect and keep us safe.
The community is fortunate to have Jill on its side. She not only tackles
fires and helps to rescue people from burning buildings, she is a also a certified
EMT and responds to chemical spills, weather-related events and a barrage of
other incidents that threaten public safety.
This 39-year-old mother of three, who was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, graduated from Allegheny College with a degree in psychology. While
in college, Jill participated in volleyball and softball. As a team player, she contributed when she could, learning many life lessons along the way that would
prove to be beneficial in her career as a firefighter. Following graduation, she
coached softball for two years at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Later, Wisconsin became her home and she coached for an additional three
years, leading the Lakeland College Muskies to win the Lake Michigan Conference twice. “While I was at Lakeland, a football player was taking some
firefighter courses and asked if I would like to join him,” said Jill. “I tried it and
loved it.”
In 2004, Jill applied for a firefighter position with the City of Meadville. “I
took the test and before I knew it, I was hired,” Jill commented. “Being the first
female firefighter in Meadville took some getting used to. I had to prove myself,
but they are a great group of guys and eventually they came to accept me. A
couple of years later I returned to coaching and was the head coach for the
Meadville Bulldogs softball team. I have always felt welcomed by the Meadville
community.”
Jill has experience with both fundraising and leading clinics. She is involved
with the Safe Kids of Crawford County, a nonprofit that provides playpens, car
seats and bike helmets for those in need. In addition, she has organized Fire
Camp for the past eight years. Children get the opportunity to experience a fire
truck firsthand and even get to try some of the equipment. “It is a fun way for
them to get an up-close look and be educated on fire safety as well,” remarked
Jill. “I get to see a lot of familiar faces. Many of the children have come year
after year.”
In June of this year, Jill was promoted to captain. “I would tell any woman
contemplating becoming a firefighter to go for it,” remarked Jill. “It is a great
job. My schedule allows me to be able to spend more time with my kids. My
coaching experience and educational background have helped me to become a
better firefighter. I have learned how to play well with others and to work hard
for what I want to accomplish. Meadville is a great community and I am honored
to be able to help protect its residents. I believe that everyone should give back
and this is one way I can do that.”
We are proud to introduce our December Faces of Health Representative, Captain Jill Staaf.