Malachi interviews Manassas fire chief Rob Clemons, who followed his childhood dream into the fire and rescue service

MANASSAS — When our student reporter, Malachi, interviewed Manassas Fire Chief Rob Clemons, he learned Clemons watched the TV show “Emergency” every week, “religiously.”

The 1970’s drama chronicled the lives of paramedics and firefighters in the Los Angeles area.

“I saw the show when I was about your age, and I said ‘I want to do this… that job is what I wanted to do,” said Clemons.

Fast forward about 40 years, and it’s clear Clemons followed his childhood dream. He now oversees a combination fire and rescue system in Manassas with both career and volunteer and rescue crews, who work 24-hours a day to save lives.

Our student reporter Malachi talked to Clemons about his role in the city, one which comes with many hats — an administrator, a motivator, and a life saver.

“OK, so everyone has a boss. Who’s your boss?” asked Malachi, 12.

“I don’t like the term ‘big dog’ being thrown around,” said Clemons. “I look at this like I’m the guy who has to support the firefighters in this organization to make sure they have the training they need, to make sure they are paid what they’re worth and that they have other people in the stations that will push them to reach heights that they didn’t think they could reach.”

Malachi, a student at Mayfield Intermediate School in Manassas, previously participated in one of the city fire department student demonstrations. He told Clemons about trying on the same gear the firefighters wear, as well as wearing the self-contained breathing apparatus, which filters air, making it breathable for firefighters on the scene of a blaze.

“I remember it weighs 40 pounds,” Malachi told Clemons.

With the pants, called bibs, coat, helmet, and breathing machine, it comes to about 70 pounds, Clemons replied.

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Malachi asked s about the weight requirement to become a firefighter. Becoming a successful firefighter, apparently, more about strength.

“So when it comes to training, we have to ask, ‘is the recruit physically capable of wearing all of this stuff?” said Clemons.

Clemons has worked for nearly 40 years in the fire service as both a career officer and volunteer. He’s achieved multiple certifications in EMS and fire and rescue services, and he was at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and worked in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Clemons has served as the city’s fire chief since June 20, 2016.