Patton and Fenton Are Rising in the Firefighter Ranks

When we say that Fire Dept. Coffee is run by firefighters, we mean it.

We take our coffee seriously, but for so many of us, the fire service remains at the heart of our professional lives. It’s the true calling that drives us, and the desire to protect others keeps us coming back for those long shifts (with plenty of coffee, of course).

So we are proud to announce that two vital members of our team recently received major promotions within their respective departments.

Fire Dept. Coffee Vice President Jason Patton is now a Driver Engineer at his department in Florida. Brent Fenton — aka Firefighter Fenton — works in Arizona, where he has been promoted to Captain.

Should we call him Captain Fenton now? Probably.

For both Patton and Fenton, these promotions are the fulfillment of their firefighting dreams. They got here by working countless hours, studying and practicing their craft, earning the respect of their peers and leading by example every day.

Jason Patton’s New Firefighter Rank of Driver Engineer

Driver Engineers are responsible for maintaining the firefighting vehicles at all times and then getting behind the wheel to transport firefighters to the scene of the call. 

Then it’s their job to pump water to the firefighters who might be fighting fires inside a burning structure as well as the timely placement for the aerial ladder. It’s a critical and sought-after role in the department.

“Getting this promotion has meant a great deal to me because it was a culmination of hard work and perseverance finally paying off,” Patton said. “It's amazing to know that I am a vital part of a team operation that is truly saving lives.”

As the founder of Fire Department Chronicles and now VP of Fire Dept. Coffee, Patton is constantly putting his creative and comedic talents to work. It’s fun for him, and he’s incredibly good at it.

But everything comes back to firefighting.

“When I am on duty at the fire department it is my chance to soak in and enjoy the job that I love so much,” he said. “Being a firefighter has always been a passion of mine, so balancing the job with everything else is simple. When I am on shift, I try to disconnect from everything else so I can enjoy a part of my life that gives me real purpose.”

Firefighter Fenton Promoted to Fire Captain

When Fenton joined the fire service in 2004, he set two clear goals for himself: 

1. Become a Paramedic
2. Become a Captain

Eighteen years and a lot of hard work later, he has achieved both goals. As Captain, it’s his job to oversee the daily operations at the fire station and to supervise and mentor the firefighters within the department.

“This promotion has been the result of years of preparation throughout my career to always be striving to learn and become a master of my craft,” he said, “So professionally, this is my biggest achievement and goal reached so far. Personally, this is a way that I could exemplify hard work and determination to my children.”

He also credits the behind-the-scenes support of his wife and children for helping make this dream possible, especially all the extra work and study hours he has put in over the last year. 

Just as he focused on setting an example for his children, his dream of becoming Captain was about setting an example for other firefighters and helping push them to achieve their own goals. In firefighting, as in any line of work, that’s what leadership is all about.

In Fenton’s life, there are three priorities: faith, family and firefighting. It can be quite the balancing act — and he admits that he doesn’t always get it right — but the saving grace is that in many ways, those priorities are so interconnected that it all works out in the end.

“I have to make sure that my foundation is solid if I ever want to truly be successful,” Fenton said. “The best thing about Fire Dept. Coffee and the fire service is that family is ingrained into the culture. My family becomes part of the fire family and I love that.”