Valerie Cassity
Special to the Sun

Dionisio Mitchell never dreamed of being a firefighter when he was a boy, yet as a man, he found it was the best career in which he could help others. Mitchell works for the Kern County Fire Department.

He’s usually stationed at Station 42 in east Bakersfield, but after volunteering for a summer-long temporary assignment to KCFD’s Crew 87, he knew his work would make a real difference by saving people’s lives and homes. He focused on the assignment with Crew 87 because the job is quite physically demanding and he felt he could be an asset. Crew 87 is an initial attack crew, responsible for being the first responders on any fire in Kern County. They also create fuel breaks and work on fuel reduction projects, primarily in Lake Isabella, but they also help out in Tehachapi when needed.

Dionisio Mitchell takes a break from one of the fuel reduction projects in the Bodfish Canyon on July 19.

Mitchell’s Captain, Randy Griffin, calls him, “The cream of the crop.”

A 1999 graduate of Kern Valley High School, Mitchell joined the Army right after he graduated, and spent four and one-half years defending his country. He was lucky enough to complete his service shortly after the war in Iraq began, but he did spend six months in Kuwait during his tour of duty. While in the Army, Mitchell married his High School sweetheart, Valerie, and the couple recently celebrated their six-year anniversary. They have two children; Katelynn, 5, and Evan, 2. “My proudest accomplishment is my marriage and children,” said Mitchell.

Shortly before he left the Army, Mitchell decided he wanted a career in which he could help people while utilizing his physical fitness; he found fire fighting to be the perfect match. He started working toward that goal while transitioning into civilian life, passing the necessary written and physical agility tests on his first try. He then entered the Kern County Fire Academy, a four-month training program in Bakersfield. Mitchell enjoys his work and hopes to continue in the fire fighting field for many years. “I just like to help people in need,” said Mitchell. “It makes me feel better that I am able to serve others.”

Mitchell is continuously striving to better himself, and has recently earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology from Kaplan University. He studied criminal behavior and learned what triggers people to commit crimes. Mitchell would like to continue his education by earning a Masters and/or Doctorate degree, then he will look for an opportunity to use his knowledge in a professional capacity. He hopes to use his degree to work within the prison system or testifying in court on the mental state of defendants, while he continues his work as a Kern County Firefighter.

Although Mitchell had no intention of becoming a fire fighter when he was a child or teen, he knows that several boys and young men do have that dream. His advice to them, “make sure to stay in school and get good grades, and get involved in the fire program any way they can, such as through the ROP Fire Science class or Explorer program at Kern Valley High School.” He also suggests anyone, who would like to get into the fire fighting field, talk to any firemen and ask them questions; they’ll be more than happy to help them out. “A lot of people don’t get involved because they don’t know much about it and don’t know there aren’t that many requirements to apply,” said Mitchell. “If you have a High School diploma you can apply for Kern County Fire Department.”