Seth Richardson: How I Serve My Buckeye Community
On a night in October 2002, at the Pike Township Fire Department outside Springfield, OH, firefighters and dispatchers were waiting close by their radios. This wasn’t an emergency they were anticipating, though—rather, they were in preparation for some exciting news. Soon after, they finally received the message they had been eagerly waiting for over the dispatch radio. The Richardson Family, with more than four family members already serving in the fire department, welcomed a son to the family. The department gave a warm welcome over the radio and congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Richardson on their addition to the family.
Since the day he was born, Seth Richardson has been a standout in the Pike Township “firehouse family.” With his dad serving in the department for 30+ years, mom serving for 10+ years, sister for 5+ years, and two uncles serving as captain and chief, Seth had a deep connection to the world of firefighting. Growing up, he says he was always playing around the firehouse and helping, from cleaning trucks and moving supplies, to riding shotgun during parades and joining as a cadet for 6 years.
Seth, now a second-year Agriscience Education major at Ohio State ATI, has completed his Firefighter Level 1 training at the Wayne County Regional Training Facility in Apple Creek, right next to the Ohio State ATI beef facility. He started in February 2023, and has completed various trainings in structural fires, auto accident extraction, general hazmat, and CPR/first aid—all in addition to his college coursework. Now that he has received his certification, Seth plans to volunteer at the Wooster Township Fire Department upon returning to school in the fall, which serves OSU ATI’s Applewood Village and the surrounding community.
When asked why he stuck with it all these years, Seth said that he wanted to help his community in the way that he knew best. “I love it; it’s in my blood. It takes a certain kind of person to jump into a burning building with no hesitation.”