Story by Stephen Prudhomme | Photography by Leidy Lester

Family takes on an added meaning for two Pooler firefighter brothers. They’re following the path taken by their father, who, along with his wife, a registered nurse, has dedicated his life to service.

As his sons pursue a firefighting career, Christopher Haley wrote a heartfelt letter to Pooler’s fire chief in which he expresses gratitude for the hiring, notes how he and his wife instilled a sense of service in their sons they’re bringing to the department, and asking they’re cared for, just like family.

Haley is the hospital emergency manager at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. That followed 22 years as a firefighter/emergency medical technician (EMT) in Dayton, Ohio. In December, Tyler, 21, joined his brother, Matthew, 24, as members of the Pooler Fire Department. That decision to answer the siren call of firefighting and continue a family tradition inspired the senior Haley to reflect on the path they followed and express fatherly pride and gratitude in a letter to Pooler Fire Chief Wade Simmons.

The Haley family is marked by service. Along with Christopher’s jobs as a firefighter/EMT and hospital emergency manager, his wife, Rebecca, has worked as a registered nurse for 30 years.

Service isn’t just something they believe in, Christopher wrote to Chief Simmons, it’s something they live. That philosophy was passed down to the next generation.

“Their mother and I have carried them through scraped knees, late-night homework, disappointments and triumphs,” Christopher wrote. “We taught them to stand tall, to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and to always watch over their crew.”

When he looks at a picture of his sons as youngsters visiting him at his fire station, Christopher continued, he sees two little boys who used to tug at his gear, climb on the engine, and sit wide-eyed listening to stories from the station. He and his wife watched them play firefighter in oversized suspenders with hearts already full of compassion and courage.

Being the sons of a firefighter and having the lessons of serving instilled by their parents made the Haley brothers ideal candidates to follow their father’s onetime profession. The senior Haley remarked how his little boys have become men, citing the qualities they’ll bring to their new job as men and firefighters.

“Speaking from the heart,” Christopher commented on how the department has seen firsthand the gentle giant side of Matthew, nicknamed Big Bird, adding it now has two of the finest men in its department. “They are dedicated, compassionate, and ready to give everything they have for their community,” Christopher wrote in his letter.

In turn, Christopher, remarked that he and Rebecca, with full hearts, are entrusting their sons to the Pooler Fire Department, asking the latter to provide a nurturing environment similar to the one in which they grew up. “Encourage them, guide them, challenge them to grow, keep them safe, and love them as family, just as we always have. Their journey started with us, but now it continues with you.”

Wade Simmons has been Pooler’s fire chief since 2008 and started his firefighting career 36 years ago. He’s continuing a family tradition that includes his grandfather, father and four uncles. Noting how the family tradition of firefighting that marked the early part of his career is no longer as prevalent, Simmons is heartened by the Haleys joining his department and the letter thanking him for bringing them onboard.

“I was shocked to receive the letter,” Simmons said. “It touches home with me. I’m old school. The family aspect is a big deal to me. I thanked Christopher for the letter and said I would take good care of them. I told him he should be proud of his two sons and how they serve the community.”

Simmons said Matthew, a driver with the department who is on track to become a lieutenant, really wanted to become a firefighter and possesses a tremendous work ethic. Tyler, who joined the department in early December and is a probationary firefighter for his first year, was an all-star in his 24-week training class, according to Simmons. He added that Tyler stood out in his recruiting class and has the ability to learn quickly and pass his knowledge on to others.

The hiring of his two sons elicited words of gratitude from Christopher. “From one firefighter to another, and from two parents who have spent a lifetime serving others, thank you for welcoming them and helping shape the men they will continue to become,” he wrote. “And thank you for allowing their childhood dreams to become their calling.”

Tyler said his dad’s letter meant more to him than he can put into words. It didn’t just make him proud of his brother and himself, he noted, but it caused him to reflect on his family as a whole and their incredible good fortune.

“The love, support and lessons our parents gave us are things I will always carry with me,” Tyler said. “I am forever proud of my family and deeply grateful for the foundation they provided.”

Growing up, Tyler recalls waking up in the morning and putting on his firefighter costume, running around all day and reenacting scenes from movies and imagining he was wearing his dad’s boots. One memory that stands out is watching his father sprinting through their backyard while throwing on his gear, jumping the fence and running into their neighbor’s burning garage. “As a kid it was both awe inspiring and deeply comforting at the same time,” Tyler said. “It felt like watching a real life superhero, someone who brought safety and calm into a chaotic situation.”

Tyler said his brother also influenced his decision to become a firefighter, seeing the bond he shares with his peers and how they rely on each other through the best and worst moments. Now he has the opportunity to work with him.

“Being able to work alongside my brother is something I don’t take lightly,” Tyler said. “This is something we dreamed about as kids, and now getting to live it together makes this career even more meaningful. I’m honored to continue the legacy of service my dad started.”

Similar to his brother, Matthew has the vivid memory of his dad coming home in the morning with the smell of smoke on his shirt and soot on his face. After four years as a firefighter, he said it’s a job he was put on this earth to do and carry on the lesson imparted by his dad to help people on the worst day of their lives.

In 2020, Matthew saw the impact his father made as a firefighter and with those he served when attending the funeral of a former coworker in Dayton, Ohio. Following the funeral, they attended a dinner to celebrate the life of their friend.

“Something that struck out to me about that night is that fireman after fireman told me that my father was the best firefighter they had ever known,” Matthew said. “I strive to be the best firefighter I can be not just because of the impact my dad had on the people who called for his help but because of the impact he had on the men and women who stood beside him.”

Working alongside his brother is especially meaningful and watching him go through the same experiences he had, face the same challenges and develop pride in his job and his fire family is humbling, according to Matthew. “Being able to share this profession as a family and follow in our dad’s footsteps together is something I don’t take for granted,” he said.

Then there’s the letter his dad wrote that brought the brothers full circle, from awestruck youngsters looking up to their father to firefighters following in his boot prints.

“Reading the letter my dad wrote recently was incredibly moving,” Matthew said. “Hearing how proud he is of my brother and me means more than I can put into words.

Knowing that he believes we’re carrying on the values he lived by throughout his career is something I’ll always be grateful for.”