Meet the winner of the Daily Point of Light Award Jerod Kampwerth. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family to be a Daily Point of Light.

For the past 15 years, Jerod Kampwerth has demonstrated his greatest strength, dedication, and solidarity with his community in his role as a volunteer firefighter with the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District. Jerod volunteers over 200 hours annually and is passionate about keeping community members safe, rescuing those in distress, and imparting valuable knowledge on what to do in an emergency.

The Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District, comprised entirely of volunteers, covers a vast 78 square mile area in Illinois and serves a population of 5,000 residents. Jerod’s contributions, along with those of the other volunteer firefighters he works with, have been instrumental in ensuring the safety and well-being of his community. Jerod was recently promoted from Captain to Assistant Chief and his role within the department has been significantly expanded. In this new command position, he will oversee most fire, rescue and EMS calls and ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently.

“I was just named assistant chief of the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District, which will change my duties a little bit,” says Jerod. “But for the most part, as a department, we respond to any type of emergency we’re called to – be it EMS, rescue, hazmat, fire, or anything that someone doesn’t know how to handle. In my new role, I’ll be more on the leadership and command side of things, which means I’ll be more of a big picture person and giving people direction on how to do certain tasks.”

Despite his increased responsibilities, Jerod remains hands-on and willing to take on rescue calls when staffing is short. “Because it’s a volunteer department in a small rural area, you never know who’s going to show up or how many people you’re going to have,” he explains. “So that doesn’t mean I won’t have more opportunities to use my skills. I’ll just use them differently than I’m used to.”

As Deputy Chief, Jerod is not only a leader in emergency situations, but also plays a critical role in the training and overall leadership of the department. His experience and expertise are invaluable in preparing new volunteers and ensuring that all members of the department are well equipped to meet the challenges they face – which range from maintaining calm under extreme stress to utilizing specific skills and expertise to communicating with those they help in times of crisis.

“I always wanted to be a firefighter since I was little,” Jerod recalls. “Like any kid, I saw the vehicles, lights and sirens, and that’s what I wanted to do as a kid. As I got older, I worked on grounds staff at schools, maintained ball fields, and worked at events. I always thought to myself, ‘There are a lot of people here, and if something happens, am I just going to sit here with my hands in my pockets, not knowing what to do?'”

Jerod first asked if the crew could hold a CPR course to train himself and others in his role on what to do in an emergency situation like this. From there, he wanted to do more. He joined a volunteer department where he lived at the time and that was how his firefighting career began. After he got married, he moved to Highland and started working with the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District… and the rest is history.

When asked what the most rewarding part of his job is, Jerod says, “Being able to make a difference in someone’s day. We get called to their worst day, whatever that may be – whether it’s a leaking pipe or a car or house fire. We help them feel like it’s not the worst day of their life. We try to convey that they’re going to be OK and that we’re there to help. That’s probably the most rewarding part of it.”

In addition to his primary duties, Jerod also devotes a great deal of time to community engagement and education. He actively participates in local fire education programs and visits schools and community centers to educate residents on fire safety and emergency preparedness. His public education efforts help develop a sense of responsibility in the community and provide individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent fires and respond effectively during emergencies.

“I notice that when people are having their worst day, the main thing they try to do is stay calm and think through the situation clearly,” says Jerod. “We come and try to calm them down so they can think clearly. That’s one thing people can do in tense situations – practice staying calm and making decisions that help stabilize the situation. That helps us a lot as helpers.”

Jerod has always felt a calling to help others in times of need, but his particular passion is volunteer firefighting. “I never got to where I am without someone helping me along the way – be it family, friends or complete strangers. That’s why I want to do this: I want to brighten someone’s day when they’re feeling their worst,” he says.

Jerod shares that about 70% of the country is covered by volunteer fire departments. “We’re kind of a dying breed,” he says. “Not many people want to do it. Fire departments are struggling to find people to do it. So if someone has a special skill and is able to do it, I think that’s important. And that’s true of every volunteer organization out there – they all need people to step in and help.”

Jerod’s 15 years of service, countless hours of volunteer work, and recent promotion to Assistant Chief are incredible testaments to how much he cares about the strength and safety of his community. But he admits he couldn’t have achieved all of these accomplishments alone: ​​”I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today in the fire service without the help of my mentors – various chiefs, training centers, and people who trained me. These people helped me be who I am and where I am today.”

Want to make a difference in your community like Jerod? Find local volunteer opportunities.