Santanna Shook, left, and Steven Shook are the first married couple to serve on the Rochester Fire Department. Santanna is also the RFD’s first female firefighter. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — The Rochester Fire Department has its first female firefighter and first married couple serving together.

Santanna Shook took the first distinction when she joined the RFD as a volunteer in October. Her husband, Steven, became a volunteer at the same time, making them the first couple within the ranks.

The Shooks, originally from Plymouth, are following in the footsteps of their family members by serving on the fire department.

Santanna’s father was a volunteer fireman for the Wakarusa Fire Department for 20 years.

“His having that background, you always have that daughter looks up to their dad kind of thing,” said Santanna of herself.

Steven’s uncle served as a volunteer with the Plymouth Fire Department.

Santanna said the two opted to join the RFD after Rochester’s assistant fire chief stopped by the couple’s main workplace, Modern Materials in Rochester.

“It comes down to being able to be that role model for the younger generation,” added Santanna of why she and Steven joined. “We have kids at home, so doing something that others can look up to you for, but then also having that sense of we’re helping save somebody’s loved one or family member, and it’s just kind of that giving back feel.”

As volunteer firefighters, the Shooks are on call 24/7.

“Anytime the radios go off, if we are available to come up to the station, we do,” said Santanna.

She said the two will stay at the station overnight when they can.

“We’ve gained a lot of relationships, and we’ve made new friends just being on the department for a short period of time,” said Santanna.

She noted fully understanding the roles of firefighters by being on the RFD has been a positive for her.

“People just think, oh you’re in a firetruck, you’re going to go put out a fire. There’s more to it,” said Santanna. “There’s a lot more training.”

“You have to know what the equipment is and how to use it,” she continued. “You have to be able to have the confidence in yourself for one to put yourself in a situation that can be very scary, so you have to be able to control your emotions and know (why) you’re doing this.”

“For a volunteer, it’s not about the money,” said Santanna. “It’s more of the aspect of you’re helping your community, you’re going in and you’re saving what needs to be saved. I guess it’s more having the heart versus anything.”

“I’ve had a lot of jobs. I think it’s the coolest job I’ve ever done I mean as far as looking at the standpoint of drop everything that you’re doing in your real life and come here and get geared up and run into a situation,” said Steven.

Training together for the department is natural for the two as the couple also works together at Modern Materials and works out together.

“We are both body builders,” said Santanna.

“It comes to, we always have that team aspect,” she said. “When he’s having a bad day, I’m there to lift him up or vice versa.”

Steven added the two look out for each other when they are on scene together.

Santanna said she’d encourage others to become firefighters to help others.

“If it wasn’t for us when someone’s having a bad day, I mean the outcome is going to be that much worse if we don’t have the strong-minded individuals to be able to come and do the same things that we’re doing,” she said.

Santanna said she was happy to visit local elementary schools to talk about fire safety in fall 2023.

“Of course, I wanted to attend because being the only female firefighter on the department I want all of the other girls, small or teenage to know that if I can do it, anyone can do it,” she said. “So to see their reaction of, she’s a female and she’s a firefighter, it’s those little things.”

“When you have that one that shows up and then you can be that inspiration that might stick … then that little girl … down the road, she may become a firefighter,” said Santanna.