Meet Lutz Station Capt. Matt Storey

Volunteer Assistant Chief Matt Storey has been at the Lutz station since March of this year. However, his firefighting career in Hillsborough County goes back 10 years. Storey transferred from the recently shuttered volunteer station in Dover. He grew up in Cork, near Plant City, and graduated from Plant City High School. 

Patch: How did you get into firefighting?

Storey: A buddy of mine named Justin, while we were in high school went with me on career day and we spoke with a county firefighter then decided we would do it together when we graduated. He graduated a year before me but was killed in a work-related accident. At that point, I knew I had to go on with being a firefighter.

Patch: Describe one of the scariest experiences you've had on the job.

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Storey: This was in the fall of 2005. We got a call for a house fire a couple miles away. We were up on the roof trying to ventilate when the roof gave out. Me and two other firefighters fell through into the attic and almost through the ceiling. We had to punch a hole in the ceiling and climb down. Luckily, we weren't right over the fire. Your life flashes before your eyes when you fall through to a spot and you don't know where it is.

Patch: What was one of your most rewarding experiences on the job?

Storey: This was when I was at the Dover station in the summer of 2007. We got a call that a lady was in labor on the side of the road. They were on their way to the hospital but her water broke in the car. When we got there the head was already crowning. We went ahead and delivered the baby right there on the side of the road with no complications. We transferred the mom and the baby to the hospital and they were fine. There's no greater feeling that bringing a life into this world.

Patch: What do you do to decompress after a long shift?

Storey: We joke around with each other when we get back to the station. We just do our best to leave the call at the house.

Patch: If you weren't working as a firefighter, what do you think you would be doing?

Storey: I never really looked at what else I might want to do, it's always been the fire department.