We take great pleasure introducing Kyle Thompson as the first of two “Inside the Fire Station” member spotlight profiles for the month of February. 

In this year 2021, Kyle is a Lieutenant, a rank considered as a Junior Officer. The Lieutenant is normally an entry level fire service leadership position, where the individual leads the rank-and-file firefighters in the performance of tasks and responsibilities handling every type of emergency incident we respond to. The Lieutenant is the first point of contact between the firefighting crew and the Incident Commander and is responsible for carrying instructions into action. By their very nature, the lieutenant is a firefighter who has demonstrated personal initiative, ability, good judgement, and leadership qualities in the performance of firefighting duties.

Kyle entered the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company as a member of our Exploring program in 2007. The Exploring program is a Boy Scouts of America program that introduces youth to potential career paths. In our case, with the Career Fire Service. With his father as a role model, he has served ably as a firefighter. Kyle’s father, Jeff Thompson, is a Life Member of the Chestertown VFC, and has made his mark with the Maryland State Firemens Association, Maryland Fire Chief’s Association, and the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation, and with the Chestertown VFC as well.

Kyle is employed by Queen Annes County as a 9-1-1 / Public Safety Dispatcher. Prior to his appointment there, he’s worked for both Kent County (Maryland) Department of Emergency Services and Cecil County Department of Emergency Services, both also as a 9-1-1 / Public Safety Dispatcher. 

Kyle is 26 and lives in Chester Harbor with his wife Rebecca and 3-year-old son Maverick. They are building a home there near his parents. To unwind and decompress, Kyle is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, and camping. He is especially active enjoying time with family and friends.

With Kyle’s position as a dispatcher working shift work, it places him advantageously to be one of our daytime responders, a time when staffing is historically short. That is, unless he’s engaged with childcare, a role in which he places great emphasis and dedication as a father.