Spud Heathman always wanted to be a firefighter.

By LYNN SUTFIN

The son of 30-year veteran firefighter Harry F. Heathman followed St. Johns firefighters to just about every fire responded to during his life. Sometimes he even beat fire crews to the scene. Although the St. Johns resident never became an official member of the department, he is remembered fondly for his pastime.

"I always said they put those signs on the trucks that say 'Keep back 500 feet' for Dad," says Sandy Rasdale. "We'd pull right up behind the trucks and I would look at dad and say, 'isn't this closer than 500 feet?'"

Heathman passed away Jan. 22, and his family requested that in lieu of flowers that donations could be made to the St. Johns Fire Department.

The St. Johns Fire Department was recently able to purchase a digital/video camera with a tripod for the department through donations made in memory of Heathman.

The camera will be used to film training sessions as well as actual fire calls and during fire investigations. It can even take still photographs that can be printed out.

"This way we can look at the tape and say we should have pulled in this way or done that differently," says Assistant Fire Chief Scott Knight.

The Heathman family and the fire department appreciate the generous donations that enabled the department to purchase the equipment.