2020 marks 50 years of fire fighting service for Lincoln's Ken Crymble

Ken Crymble has worked with the Lincoln Volunteer Fire Department for about 15 years, and recently celebrated his 50th year as a firefighter.

Over the years, Crymble has worked in city fire departments, in mines and in rural departments like Lincoln.

Crymble started out fighting fires in February, 1970 when he first got on with the Fire Department in Riverton, Wyo.

"Then I got into the EMS part of it, too," said Crymble, who was part of the second group in the state of Wyoming to become EMTs. He went on from there to be one of six in the first group to become paramedics in Wyoming.

At that time, Crymble said they built their own ambulances from suburbans. "We built five or six ambulances for the county, and a couple of them went out of the county. It was a real exciting time," said Crymble. "I was young and ambitious."

By 1979, Crymble had become the Fire Chief in Riverton. He was also the deputy coroner there for about 10 years.

"Those things never get easier, when you're dealing with serious fatalities," he said.

Crymble moved on to Jolette, Wyo., to work in one of the mines. "It was a brand new mine," he said. "We set up a MERC, a Mine Emergency Rescue Team, and we did fire and ambulance with the mine."

"I had a little gap in there from when I retired to when I got onto the fire team here in Lincoln," Crymble said, mentioning his Shrine career, which he managed around firefighting.

"That's what I had to finish up before we moved to Montana. I finished my ten year commitment there. I used to be a Shriner and now I'm an old Shriner. I used to be a fireman and now I'm an old fireman," Crymble said with a laugh. "I enjoyed working with the hospitals there. We still do that and stay involved."

Crymble said he had to be trained on wildland fires after moving to Lincoln, as his experience in Riverton had been mostly with structure fires.

"I was driving the tender for Lincoln, and I saw those 80-foot trees on fire, and I had to make a decision-either retire then, or go get trained in wildland. I went through two to three years where I got my certifications up to engine boss. It's a super dangerous job, and you need to be trained. Thanks to the people here, Bill Cyr and Zach, I got trained," Crymble said, recalling one of his first fires in Lincoln.

"His knowledge and willingness are something that we really, really appreciate. He helps us out tremendously. When he's here in the summer, anything I call and ask if he can help on, he's there. He's right there with anybody else doing the same job or more," said Lincoln Fire Chief Zach Muse. "He's just a phenomenal asset to our department and our community. We love having him. The guys love him, and he's one of the family. And we sure appreciate his wife Sandy's willingness to share."

"I still do fire. Zach gives me a list of things he needs rebuilt and fixed around the fire hall. These young kids are well-trained and do a great job," said Crymble. "I'm just very thankful to do what I've done and to Zach and this young crew around here for putting up with grandpa."

"I realized the other day, I got on in 1970 and I'm still doing this. I think I was 25 when I started out. Sandy was probably one of the catalysts for the whole thing, Crymble said. "You miss Thanksgiving dinner, you get up in the middle of the night. I thank God for keeping me safe and Sandy for putting up with me."

"Firefighting is his passion," said Sandy. "He always has taken good care of me and his kids, and he is just a very giving person. He has a huge heart."

"I think what I've seen in my fifty years of volunteering is (that) trying to keep volunteers volunteering is tough. It's a real tough situation. We do have a nice young group here now, and they're doing a good job." said Crymble.