Meet Our Members

Firefighter Spotlight

Get to Know the Crew

Every issue we sit down with a member of the Evansville Fire District to hear their story in their own words โ€” why they serve, what keeps them coming back, and what it's like behind the scenes.

Ken Nehls
Ken Nehls
Firefighter ยท 40+ Years of Service
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Ken Nehls

Ken Nehls

Firefighter โ€” 40+ Years of Service

Ken grew up in Evansville and still calls it home today. Over four decades with the department, he's taken on all types of calls โ€” "if I can help, I will go!" โ€” and picked up training and certifications along the way, from the basics through to whatever the job asked of him next.

"The Evansville Fire District means the world to me โ€” because we are a great group of people."

What Drew Him In

"Helping people out in their time of need." Ken's been guided by that same reason since day one โ€” he responds to any call he can, and says the most rewarding part of the job is "helping people out in good times and bad."

On the Job

Ask Ken what a typical week looks like, and he'll tell you there isn't one โ€” "there is no typical week, always something new." He says being part of EFD has made him a better person, and the hardest part he's faced simply comes down to one thing: age is never a reason to sit out.

A Word to the Community

Ken says the best part of station life is "working together with other cities, and learning all the time." When asked what makes someone a great volunteer firefighter, his answer was simple: "someone who wants to help others." And when a call stays with him? It's the hardest part of the job โ€” "when we lose good friends."

Quick Fire Round

Favorite Apparatus
All of Them
Go-To Meal
Just About Anything
Outside the Station
Builds Lego Cars
One Word for the Crew
The Best!