When the firefighters came to the recently-widowed woman’s home, they realized that she did not need to go to the hospital, nor did she need emergency care. She needed a different kind of care, a kind that is in large supply at the Redondo Beach Fire Department. So, the firefighters went to the nearest Whole Foods and bought her groceries for the next two weeks.
“Taking people to the hospital is just one small part of the job,” said Grant Currie. “Everyone here has the same mentality: step up and do whatever you can to take care of someone.”
Currie, 36, was recently awarded “Firefighter of the Year” by the Redondo Beach Rotary Club. But when asked about the award, he immediately attributed the honor to the rest of the department.
“Everyone really tries to go above and beyond what is expected of them,” said Currie. “I love serving theRedondo Beachcommunity because it is so easy to go on calls and reach out to the people.”
Currie has been a firefighter for twelve years and an active member of theRedondo Beachdepartment since 2004. As a child, Currie had not intended to be a firefighter, but a spur-of-the-moment decision ended up changing his life.
“I was a student at theUniversityofHawaiiand had a friend who was a firefighter inManhattan Beach,” recalled Currie. “I picked him up at the airport and we started talking about firefighting and I thought it sounded like a great idea.” He called his father to tell him that he would be taking classes at El Camino College in firefighting and, “that was that.”
“It’s really a great deal,” continued Currie. “I love being a part of a department that places such a high priority on patient care and service. I know I can speak for all of the department members when I say that I am stoked to work here.”
Redondo Beachis equally pleased to have Currie as one of their firefighters. “Currie has made a tremendous difference as an emergency service provider,” said Chat Campbell of the Redondo Beach Rotary Club, “and has made a life-altering, positive impact on countless beneficiaries as a person.”
In addition to buying groceries for the hungry and pitching in to buy a car for a man whose was stolen, Currie has found yet another way to reach out to the community.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Currie is in the process of designing a t-shirt that promotes this cause. He hopes to get the design approved by the Fire Chief so that the firefighters can wear them throughout the month of October. All proceeds made from the sales of the shirts will go to one community member struggling to fight breast cancer.
“There really is more to this job than taking people to the hospital,” continued Currie. “If I’m on a call to someone’s home, I ask myself, ‘Why is it dirty? Why is there no food in the fridge? What can I do to help out?”’
Currie willingly goes beyond the conventional help that is assumed of firefighters and is never off-duty when it comes to caring for the community, for which many people are grateful.
“Currie,” concludesCampbell, “consistently demonstrates the awareness of what so many people need today, a helping hand.” ER
