Deputy fire chief makes local 100 Hall of Fame

Published June 12, 2015
By Kimberly Woodruff
Staff Writer

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tinker's deputy fire chief is a Hall of Famer!

Chief James Bradley, with the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate's Fire and Emergency Services Division, was recently awarded a lifetime achievement award (Hall of Fame) from the board of directors of the Mid-Del-Tinker 100 Club .

Local community leaders give out awards to recognize and thank emergency responders for the job they do. The awards generally target the uniformed emergency responders such as firefighters, police officers, EMS technicians and 911 operators.

This year was unprecedented because the group awarded two lifetime career awards. The other recipient being the retiring Midwest City fire chief, these nominees were both equally matched and there was no way for the committee to decide between them.

"It was awesome and honorable to be nominated and to receive the award," said Chief Bradley. "Awards are nice, but that really isn't why we do what we do. There are a lot of reasons a person wants to be a firefighter. Personally I have always had the mind set to help people."

Chief Bradley has been a career firefighter his entire adult life. In 35 years in the career field, he has devoted 24 of those years to serving the Tinker community.

"We get to do some cool things and to really make a difference in other people's lives, and if someone else finds it award winning or noteworthy, then that is icing on the cake," said the chief.

Chief Bradley said when Tinker firefighters are on a scene, his No. 1 priority is to the people who showed up with him.

"I have a responsibility to make sure they go home in the morning," he said. "We are always conducting risk assessments and if there are lives at stake, we will risk a lot more. But, if it's a fire with very little gain and no lives are at stake, we just try to minimize the damage."

Chief Bradley said he doesn't overlook the fact that his guys help the mission and change lives. He believes in putting his group in for awards to get his folks the recognition and the thanks they deserve, especially when it can be in front of their family. Oftentimes the family doesn't know all of the things they do and the risks they are willing to take.

"It's a team effort," said Chief Bradley. "Firefighting is not an individual sport. Everything we do is for the betterment of us all."

Chief Bradley said he was honored his boss took the time to write the award package. Making sure his deputy was recognized was an easy decision for Tinker Fire and Emergency Services Chief Terry Ford.

"This guy is simply amazing," Chief Ford said. "He's the consummate professional and one of the finest fire officers I've had the pleasure to work with in 33 years."

"I've been fortunate to find such a career and to excel at it," said Chief Bradley. "It is very rewarding. I'm honored to have received the award, but it's the work that is most rewarding. I still enjoy it. I was eligible to retire three years ago, but I still enjoy the work."