CONWAY — On any given day since the 1950s, you can be sure there has been a Baker serving on the Conway Fire Department.

The family legacy of firefighting now extends four generations with Kyle and Kelsey Baker joining their father, Deputy Chief Adam Baker, and their grandfather, Fire Chief Bob Baker. Bob’s father, Harold Baker, served as a firefighter in the mid-20th century.

Further adding to the family’s sense of service, various other family members are also involved with the Fire or Ambulance departments in town.

Kelsey Baker, 14, and the family’s newest firefighter, said the experience of always being around her dad and grandfather inspired her to join the department as a junior firefighter. She added she can vividly recall her father’s pager going off at every time imaginable.

“I kind of just grew up going to parades and being in the fire trucks,” Kelsey said. “I can remember, even before I joined, just hearing the beeping sound go off and then jumping out of bed to see what it was.”

Adam Baker said the constant exposure to firefighting — especially going to calls when they were out and about — got his children interested in following in the family’s footsteps. Adam served as a junior firefighter in 1990 and worked his way up to deputy chief in 2005.

“They got the bug,” he said. “It’s great, hopefully they stick with it. … I told these two, I wasn’t forcing them to join. If they wanted to join, they could. They’ve been around it since they’ve been born.”

Kyle, who is 17 and will soon be eligible to be a regular member of the department, said the concept of continuing the family legacy didn’t occur to him and the feeling of joining the Fire Department came naturally.

“I’ve never really thought about it,” Kyle said. “It’s not something you really think about, it’s just something you know is going to happen.”

Both Kelsey and Kyle said their favorite part about serving is meeting the other firefighters and working with the community.

Bob Baker said he is happy to see his grandchildren growing up and serving the community.

“They’re growing up and helping out other people,” Bob said. “And that’s a good thing.”

Kyle Baker and the South River Engine

Adam and Bob Baker shared a story about Kyle’s connection to the Fire Department before he even joined. The department was purchasing a new truck in 2017 and the firefighters wanted to give it a name like other departments in the county. Bob and Adam decided to let the kids at Conway Grammar School come up with names and then the firefighters would vote on their favorite name.

“When (the principal) gives us the name, we didn’t want kids’ names attached to the truck’s name,” Bob said. “We got down to one final name that they all liked the best.”

Bob said all 30 members of the firefighters’ association voted for the name “South River Engine” and when he brought the name back to the Conway Grammar School, he was shocked to find out it was Kyle’s suggestion.

“Unbeknown to any of us,” Bob said pointing at Kyle. “Even his parents at home didn’t even know it.”

“He wouldn’t tell us,” Adam said. “I couldn’t believe that 30 members picked him without even knowing. He would not leak it at all.”

Kelsey’s lucky break

Kelsey Baker joined the department last month and already has some on-the-ground experience, having joined the response to a July 30 barn fire.

“She was one of the fortunate ones, the luckiest of them all,” Adam said. “She’s caught a major fire already.”

As a newly appointed junior firefighter, Kelsey said her role at a large fire is limited, but she was able to grab some photos for the department’s Facebook page.

“I kind of just sat around and watched until my grandma came,” Kelsey said. “Thank God, my phone was fully charged.”

Adam said she was eager to help out, so he assigned her to photo duty because junior firefighter rules are very “restrictive” for safety reasons.

“She says, ‘Dad what can I do?’” Adam said. “I said, ‘You really can’t do much, why don’t you be the photographer?’”

Working as a family

Adam Baker said he enjoys working with his family, but no one receives special treatment because they share the same last name.

“They don’t get any treatments,” he said. “You screw up, you’re getting it. … You have to do that because it would be nepotism.”

He said working with his father is great and he joked that he can always give Bob advice on how to handle a situation, even if he might not use it.

“I have to tell him, ‘Dad this is not old school anymore, this is maybe what we should do,’” Adam said. “He’ll think about it, nine times out 10, he’ll do it his way, but we get the job done.”

Bob Baker said he is looking forward to working with and teaching Kyle and Kelsey more about firefighting.

“They’re going to take over eventually when I retire,” he said.

Adam echoed his dad’s statement and said the kids have a lot of work ahead of them.

“They’ve got big shoes to fill,” Adam said. “I can tell you that, grandpa and me.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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