At just 21 years old, Kaelee Allmon has had a few hurdles to overcome in her quest to become a firefighter.
The biggest was her size. At just 5-feet-2 inches, Allmon became the first full-time female firefighter with the Cortez Fire Protection District last week. And she has been awarded the Firefighter of the Year Award.
“I didn’t expect that at all,” Allmon said .
Over the years, Allmon – nicknamed “Taz,” as in “Tazmanian Devil” – has overcome her size and an injury.
Allmon said the physical tests to become a firefighter are daunting. One required her to climb a ladder while wearing a 45-pound vest and carrying a 70-pound roll of hose.
“When you weigh 100 pounds soaking wet, it’s not fun. It kicks my butt,” Allmon said.
Allmon trained hard for the test, said Fire Chief Jeff Vandevoorde.
“She kicked butt on the test this year,” Vandevoorde said.
Leverage is her friend, Allmon said.
“I don’t use my size as a disadvantage. I just do things a different way,” she said.
The test included pulling a hose, dragging a 170-pound dummy and moving a Keiser sled. A Keiser sled, which simulates forcible entry, weighs 150 to 160 pounds and must be moved by hitting it with a sledge hammer.
Allmon was honored during an award ceremony Feb. 21. She was nominated by fellow firefighters.
“She got the most nominations, that is for sure,” Vandevoorde said. “She is really dedicated and has improved over the years.”
Allmon said she was drawn to emergency services because her father is a police officer and her mother is a nurse. Her mother’s motorcycle accident opened her eyes to the value of first responders, and she started taking firefighter classes at Montezuma-Cortez High School. She has been a part-time firefighter with the district since she was 19 years old.
While attending the fire academy at San Juan College, Allmon was sideline by a broken foot.
“I was climbing stairs with weight, and my arch collapsed. It broke during a combat challenge,” she said.
After taking time off, Allmon had surgery on both her feet.
“It was horrible,” she said.
Working as a full-time firefighter has its challenges. Cortez firefighters work 48-hour shifts, but she says she enjoys it.
“Helping people is the biggest part of the job,” she said. “It’s a fun job, but it is not easy.”
Jeter earns Chief’s Award
Also on Feb. 21, Staton Jeter was awarded the Chief’s Award.
“He is really proud to be a full-time firefighter and very dedicated,” Vandevoorde said.
Jeter, also 21, has developed a maintenance and inventory program and earned the rank of lieutenant.
Also Feb. 21, the department promoted its first full-time new officers. Danny Barfield, Jared Miller and Staton Jeter were all promoted to lieutenant. They went through a very competitive process and have been taking classes, training and studying for about a year to test for this position.
The Cortez Fire Protection District has 40 firefighters. Nine of them are full-time firefighters.