VIDEO: Like Father Like Son, A Local Fireman Is Following In His Dad’s Footsteps

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Imagine being a child growing up idolizing your dad, dreaming of one day filling his shoes.

Well that dream has become a reality at the Starkville Fire Department.

Nathan Gaudin is one of the newest members at the department, joining his father, David Gaudin who’s the Battalion Chief.

“When you’re young, you want to be just like your dad,” said Nathan Gaudin. “You want to work for your dad, you want to eventually be just like him, and that’s kind of where I am right now.”

“He did not tell me he was applying,” David Gaudin recalled. “I found out by the personnel director that a Gaudin has applied at the fire department, and I’m like, well it’s got to be my son because of there’s not many of those around here.”

Nathan said his dad is the one person who’s had the biggest influence on his life.

The father and son duo have been working together for two months now, and said they’re thrilled and thankful to have this opportunity.

“I’m really proud of my son,” the father expressed. “I’m glad he’s going to come out here. I know he’s going to do well. He wants it, he’s gung ho, and that’s what it takes.”

David said he’s happy that his following in his footsteps, however there is one thing that concerns him as a parent.

“Fire service does have one thing about it, it is a dangerous profession, I mean it really is,” he explained. “There is a lot that goes on in the fire service. When you go in to fight a fire you have no idea what you are getting into, and it’s scary. So as a dad, you always worry about it, but I’ll be honest, I feel like I’ve been a dad to a lot of people here.”

Nathan has worked at SFD for only a few months.

“It’s been a real blast,” he described. “I really like the work, I like helping people, I love to train both physically and just skills training. I’m really interested in the medical side of it and the fire firefighting wide of it, and we get to do a lot of that thankfully.”

Meanwhile, David has worked at SFD for nearly three decades.

With all of that experience under his belt, Nathan said he plans to lean on his best friend for guidance and advice as much as he can.

“Now we’re not on the same shift, we can’t work together,” the Battalion Chief said. “So that’s kind of an unfortunate in a way because we don’t get to see each other as much.”

“Big shoes to fill, but I’m happy to be filling them,” said Nathan.

The Gaudin’s are only the second father and son duo to work at SFD.