Daviess County Sheriff Brad Youngman may have edged out Randy Lanham in a firehouse gear-up challenge on Friday, but both men walked away with a deeper appreciation for volunteer firefighters — and a renewed call for others to join the ranks.
The challenge was part of Lanham’s ongoing Facebook Live series with Volunteer Owensboro, where he invites local leaders to team up on real-world tasks at area nonprofits and organizations. This episode took Lanham and Youngman to the Knottsville Fire Department, where Chief Kevin Lanham led them through a timed drill — donning full fire gear and handling a hose — simulating the opening moments of an emergency call.
“We were timed on how quickly we could put on the suit,” Youngman said. “Chief Lanham stressed that every emergency starts with how fast you get into your gear. And even after 20 years in law enforcement, that’s something I’d never seen up close.”
Randy Lanham, who grew up in Knottsville and comes from a long line of firefighters, said the experience was both humbling and eye-opening.
“My granddad was a firefighter. My dad, uncles, cousins — I always wanted to be one,” Randy Lanham said. “I didn’t realize how hard it is or how much training it takes. But I love the fact that these fire departments work and live like a family. They train together, learn together, fight fires together — it’s a strong bond.”
Though Youngman narrowly won the timed gear-up and hose drill, both men agreed that the physical toll of the activity — even outside of an emergency — was intense.
“It’s like trying to run through quicksand,” he said. “It’s heavy, it covers every bit of you, and it’s hot. And we weren’t even in a fire. We were just doing a 10-minute drill in daylight. These folks are out here doing it day and night, sometimes right after being woken up. It’s impressive. And to do it as a volunteer — that’s even more impressive.”
Kevin Lanham said there are 12 volunteer fire departments across Daviess County, and while the passion is there, the personnel shortage is real.
“When a person first comes on, they’re eager, which is great — that keeps them wanting to go to training and gain that knowledge,” Kevin Lanham said. “But before anyone goes into a house fire, they’ve got to be trained and certified. That’s 130 hours, broken down into specific categories.”
New members typically start by assisting with tasks like traffic control at accident scenes, he added, but even that comes with training.
“Sometimes we’re the first ones on the scene, and if we don’t manage the traffic, that could lead to a bigger accident,” he said. “We’re strategically located so we can be at any house in Daviess County in about five minutes. That helps everybody, including law enforcement.”
Kevin Lanham encouraged those interested to simply stop by their local department or reach out on social media.
“You don’t even have to sign up at first,” he said. “Just say, ‘Hey, this is something I might be interested in.’ We’re easy to find, and if it turns out it’s not for you, that’s okay. But we always need volunteers — good, dependable people the community can trust.”
Youngman emphasized that the call to action is urgent.
“I don’t want to say they’re vanishing, but there are fewer and fewer people getting involved,” he said. “Volunteer firefighters have always been there for us. But if people don’t step up, one day they might not be.”
Randy Lanham’s Volunteer Owensboro series continues with episodes spotlighting different nonprofits and community leaders. His goal is simple: to entertain, educate, and most importantly, inspire people to give back.
“If you’re even thinking about volunteering — whether it’s at a fire department or anywhere else — just try it,” Lanham said. “You might find your place.”
