Joseph (Joe) Drab has been a firefighter/paramedic for 14 years. Over the course of his career he has attended a 7 month fire academy, been stationed at one of the busiest fire stations in the state of Virginia, was the lead instructor for two fire recruit academies, been trained as a vessel operations pilot (fireboat), been trained and assigned to Rescue Company 1 (Special Operations), been a founding member of the Peer Support Team, been Firefighter of the Year, and a founding member of the Community Outreach Program.
Joe Drab serves the citizens of the City of Norfolk, Virginia. Norfolk is approximately 66 square miles with a population of roughly 250,000 residents. This population swells to almost 350,000 people during the work day. Norfolk is also the home of the largest naval base in the world (Naval Station Norfolk).
Norfolk Fire Rescue runs upwards of 50,000 fire and EMS calls every year. These calls are answered from fourteen different fire stations placed strategically throughout the city. The department is made up of over 500 individuals and has 14 ambulances, 14 fire engines, 7 ladder trucks, 2 heavy rescues, 2 fire boats, and three battalion chiefs that make up the Operations aspect of the department.
Norfolk Fire Rescue responds to calls that are a matter of life-or-death multiple times a day. Not many days go by without something significant occurring. While it may not be exactly like the movies, enough happens within Norfolk to keep Norfolk Fire Rescue personnel busy responding to calls that test the members intelligence, bravery, and ability to think fast.
