Division Chief Kutzke Hangs Up his Gear

When Division Chief Jeff Kutzke hangs up his turnout gear after his final shift this Friday, after 34 years of service with the Marco Island Fire/Rescue Department, he won’t just be leaving behind a career but a “second family,” one which he will have spent more time with than his own family when all is said and done.

The profession and the passion which goes with it is more than just a job, but a calling for many. It’s a calling because you don’t just leave it behind when you finish your shift work.

As a young firefighter in 1989, Chief Kutzke worked 24 hours on and 48 hours off for a few shifts before he got a “Kelly day,” which would help round off the hours, so municipalities didn’t have to pay “overtime.”

A few years ago, Division Chief Kutzke started working a new shift where crews worked a full 48 hours on before being off for 96 hours straight (four days). This new shift helped with the retention of firefighters, as many lived on the east coast of Florida, and the new shift schedule allowed them a more “family-friendly” schedule and reduced travel.

The hours they worked weren’t the only portion of the job that changed over the years. Improvements in the gear they wear that provides protection when entering burning buildings, as well as the upgrades in the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs), which allows them to breathe in those super-heated environments, were all life-saving advances in his field.

Kutzke’s passion was the vehicles used on their calls. He spent hours studying new advances in apparatus design and safety features, which assisted the Marco department in receiving some of the safest equipment on the market.

Marco Island has been fortunate over the years to have had the service of men such as Kutzke. It is believed that the only other careers which provide a strong sense of camaraderie similar to the fire service are found within the military and law enforcement. The adrenaline rush which comes from the job and that strong sense of solidarity and comradeship are found in very few professions. Those who have recently hung up their gear after their last shift have never forgotten that they were part of a unique “second family.”

There will be one face that Division Chief Kutzke won’t soon forget and will always be easily recognizable to him. Jeff Kutzke, Jr., who has recently been promoted to Captain in the department, will be carrying on his father’s tradition within the profession as well as his quiet-spoken demeanor. Kutzke, Jr. recently received the Firefighter of the Year Award while his proud dad looked on at the Annual Fire Rescue Foundation’s Annual Meeting.

Thank you, Chief Kutzke, for your outstanding service to the community you’ve called home.