Although he is expected to recover, Wolf began chemotherapy treatments last month and became concerned about missing work. That’s when his fellow firefighters, his relatives and his wedding party stepped in to show their support. As Wolf’s hair began to fall out due to the chemotherapy, his friends, along with a few of the firefighters, decided to shave their heads in support of his fight with cancer. His co-workers also stepped in to help pick up his additional shifts to make sure he had enough time off to celebrate his wedding, which was rescheduled for November.
“It makes the fight a whole lot easier,” Wolf said.
In all, nearly a dozen firefighters and at least one police officer showed up by the station’s ladder truck to shave their heads, then cleaned the garage with a garden hose.
Although Wolf has only served in the fire division for a year, his father Barry also serves on the department, and many of the firefighters on staff have known both for years. The shaved heads and extra shifts are a simple gesture that shows how close members of the department are, said Jason Croker, president of the Urbana Firefighters Local 1823. It took just a short time for everyone to shave their heads, Croker said, but along with the extra shifts it shows members of the division have each other’s backs when a tragedy strikes.
“I think for us, stinking together and sacrificing for each other is a cornerstone on which the fire department is built,” Croker said.
The support, both from co-workers and his family, have helped him get through the roughest parts of the treatment as he plans his new wedding date, Tyler Wolf said.
“It’s been a real testament to how close we are here at this department,” Tyler Wolf said.
In the meantime, Croker joked firefighters should expect some odd looks from residents who call for help in the next couple weeks.
“We’ll have a bunch of ugly bald-headed guys show up at their door,” Croker said.
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