Paying it forward

Kevin McGilvary’s introduction to the Belgium Fire Department wasn’t an experience he wants to remember, but it nonetheless led him to join the group.

In January 2018, while taking down Christmas lights on his roof, McGilvary misjudged the location of the roofline and “basically walked off the roof,” he said.

His 11-foot fall was broken by his face.

McGilvary’s stepson called 911, and the Belgium Fire Department and Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office responded.

Fearing he had a skull fracture, a Flight for Life helicopter was called and McGilvary was taken to Froedtert Hospital.

He somehow escaped with an eye socket fracture in four places, broken nose that led to a deviated septum and cuts on his forehead.

“I didn’t even have a concussion,” he said. “I arrived at Froedtert in a helicopter and left eight to 10 hours later when my wife drove me home. They didn’t even admit me.”

McGilvary had to miss five weeks of driving semitractor-trailer.

“They didn’t want me even bending over. I couldn’t put my own shoes on,” he said, adding he was supposed to fend off sneezes as well.

McGilvary knows he could have suffered a broken spine or neck.

“I ended up incredibly lucky,” he said. “I thought I would pay it forward.”

Before moving to Belgium a few years ago, McGilvary considered joining the Fredonia department, but his work schedule didn’t allow it. Now, he has the time and the inspiration.

McGilvary is taking classes at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland to complete his state-required 120 hours of training to become a Level 1 firefighter.

For now, he can respond to calls in the rescue squad and command vehicle — trainees may not ride a fire engine — and he can fight fires from the outside of buildings and operate tankers.

Once he becomes a firefighter, McGilvary said he wants to go back to school to become an emergency medical responder.

He came to understand the value of the department during and after his accident.

“I was pretty much out of it but I was still conscious and aware of people around me,” he said.

The Flight for Life helicopter was allowed to land near McGilvary’s house on Main Street because department members secured the area and the village had buried power lines during the recent Main Street reconstruction project.

Without those elements, the helicopter would have had to land farther away, he said.

While joining the department is a community service, McGilvary said he has reaped a benefit as well.

“It motivates me to live a healthier lifestyle as well so I can do this,” he said.

“From what I understand, just about every department is short on people these days. I’m 49 years old. I can give 10 or 15 years, you know.”

McGilvary’s dedication is already spreading. His wife Lisa, is considering joining the department’s new reserve unit.