WEST HAVEN, Conn. — Fire stations are loud places where those manning the ladders have to keep their eyes and ears open. New recruit Joe Cronin can’t hear or speak. But, it hasn’t stopped him from passing the firefighter training test. He joined the West Haven, Connecticut Fire Department.
Cronin says he’s wanted to be a firefighter since he was a kid. He will read lips and use hand signals or texts to communicate with fellow firefighters.
“”When he wants to do something he just goes for it,” Cronin’s mom said.
Cronin’s fire house came up with codes so that they can communicate with one another.
“They’ve accepted me for who I am,” he said using his mom as an interpreter.
Because he is deaf he is unable to make a “mayday” call in certain situations which means he can’t get his full certification. He has been cleared for outdoor emergencies like a brush fire or car fire.
“I was scared but then I realized that he can really do this job,” his mother said.
At first, Chief Jimmy O’Brien’s effort to accept Cronin was met with resistance. But Joe proved he can keep up.
“I think we learned a heck of a lot more from Joe than he learned from us,” the chief said.
Cronin says he’d eventually like to become a fire investigator. For now, he hopes to be inspiration to others.
