POLAND — One name that is well-established in the fire service locally is O’Hara.

At Poland fire, or the Western Reserve Joint Fire District, there are now three generations actively involved in helping to protect lives and property: Bill O’Hara, 76; Scott O’Hara, 49; and Connor O’Hara, 18.

The road to fire service began with Bill, who serves as fire safety officer. Bill worked his way up the ladder and has 52 years in the fire service.

“I had an uncle, James O’Hara who was a firefighter in Austintown,” Bill said. “That is how I got introduced to firefighting.”

Bill’s first job was driving an ambulance for a local company. But he found firefighting as a task needed to help others and on May 15, 1970, joined the Austintown department as a volunteer.

“We got $3 a call when I started,” Bill said. “We got paid twice a year, in June, when it helped with vacation, and in December, which helped at Christmas.”

Bill stayed as a volunteer for 10 years, then became full time and proceeded to lieutenant, captain and eventually assistant chief. Bill stayed with Austintown for 35 years, retired and joined the WRJFD as a safety officer.

Bill has been with WRJFD for 17 years and continues to teach young students about fire safety.

SCOTT O’HARA

Because of Bill’s rich history in the fire service, his son Scott grew up with the same knowledge. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 77 in Austintown, which had an Explorers unit that handled tasks similar to fire training.

“We did activities, just like the fire departments,” Scott said. “We held a ‘fire muster’ where we competed in things like climbing ladders and dragging hose.”

At 19, in 1992, Scott joined the Austintown Fire Department, following in his dad’s footsteps. He was a part-time volunteer.

“I remember my first call,” he said “It was a (fire) alarm drop at United Freezer and Storage on Dec. 7, 1992.”

He said it wasn’t a big blaze, just an alarm that went off. It was still Scott’s first time responding.

Scott didn’t go full time in the fire service. Instead, he got a job with a local pool company that made pool liners and covers. After a couple of years he moved to an advertising company. Three years ago he became employed at Bernard Daniels in Canfield as a driver, salesman and yard assistant.

Scott moved to Poland in fall 2004 and immediately joined the WRJFD. Unlike his dad, Scott said he is happy as a part-time volunteer and he doesn’t plan to climb the ladder.

“I am happy where I am at,” he said. “My biggest goal is to help the community and those in need. I am not looking for any thank-you’s, I am just doing my job.”

CONNOR O’HARA

In November 2004, Scott’s son Connor was born. Being exposed to the fire service through his dad and grandfather, Connor chose to keep the family passion going.

Connor attended Poland Seminary High School for his freshman and sophomore years, then transferred to Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield. He entered the public safety course, which was an introduction into police service in his junior year, followed by the fire service in the present school year. Connor will graduate from MCCTC on May 24.

“I plan to become a full-time firefighter,” Connor said. “I would love to work in a big city department in a place like Cleveland or Columbus.”

Connor already has felt the heat of fire service. Both he and his father were able to suit up and get the feel of what it’s all about. MCCTC has a metal shipping container set up to simulate a real fire inside. Firefighter students are able to see what it is like to enter a burning building and how hot it actually can be. Bill showed up at the training as well and was photographed with his son and grandson.

One thing all three men said they witnessed over the years is how technology has improved the fire service. That was even evident when Scott and Connor were kids. Scott said he had a collection of Matchbox firetrucks, but Connor recalls his radio controlled firetruck.

There is a chance that both toys were brought by a special bearded fellow. For as long as anyone can remember, Bill has been seen at Austintown’s Wickliffe Fire Station during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. It was where Santa Claus greeted local children who eagerly awaited the moment that they could pass on their wish lists.

Remarkably, Bill and Santa were at the event each year, but had never been seen together. Could it be that Bill is the bearded guy in the red suit? No one can say for sure, but Santa does arrive on a firetruck, and that could mean Santa must have O’Hara blood running through his veins.

There are also other members of the O’Hara family in the fire service. Scott’s cousin, Tom O’Hara, serves as battalion chief at Austintown and is a fire instructor at MCCTC. Scott’s second cousin, Brandon O’Hara, serves as a full-time firefighter in Boardman and part-time in Austintown.