Contra Costa County’s Top Firefighter Blessed That ‘The Job Found Me’

CONCORD, Calif. (July 1, 2024) — In his youth, Captain Josh Andrews found himself at a crossroads in his career. More than two decades later, the vocation he chose resulted in an unforgettable life as a member of the firefighting community.

He is the latest recipient of the Contra Costa County Firefighter of the Year Award from the Kiwanis Club of Concord. The award is being presented for the third year in a row.

Even though Andrews already felt honored, he initially felt uncomfortable.

“I don’t think we do our job for recognition,” he said of being an “honors guy.”

“We do it for the guys and girls we work with regularly. They are a family and you live with these boys for two or three days each time,” he said, adding that he appreciated the intention of the award.

Up close and personal

He noted that work is about serving others and one must learn to interact with the public. Likewise, it is work that encompasses some of the most intimate moments of someone’s life, whether it is informing someone on the side of the road or outside their home that their loved one has died or helping to bring new life into the world. Andrews did both.

“The intimacy of this job and the way you spend time with the people you work with and the people you serve made it some of the most rewarding times of my life,” he said.

However, another unfortunate reality of this calling is the hardships that befall those closest to him, namely his wife and three daughters.

“This job can create an imbalance in your life,” he said. “So my family members are the recipients of a lot of this imbalance.”

Taking the job, with all its pros and cons, Andrews came to view it as a window into his world.

“It allows them to see the dedication and commitment you will get for everything you put into the job,” he said.

Possibility of early start in the classroom

Andrews’ adventure as a firefighter began as a teenager at the Laytonville Fire Station, located about halfway between Leggett and Willits on 101st Street in Northern California. His time with the Laytonville Volunteer Fire Department was part of a community service program that allowed high school students to visit a local business for an hour a week to learn about a variety of careers.

With only a few options in this small town, the fire department turned out to be a lucky break, as Andrews met Mark Robertson. This meeting changed the course of his life forever.

“He was my mentor and opened up opportunities for me,” Andrews said. “Being in the fire department was planting a seed.”

So at the age of 18, Andrews volunteered for the department and never regretted it. He recalled that he worked there for a season on a helicopter and later graduated from paramedic school.

Leadership skills

Eventually, things came full circle for Andrews when he asked Robertson to pin on his badge in 2003 upon graduating from the Con Fire Academy.

“You work really hard to earn it,” said Andrews, who knows Robertson was a major influence and important role model in shaping that achievement.

“I was lucky this job found me,” Andrews added.

So is Greg Sawyer, Con Fire Battalion Chief, whose office is at Concord Station 6, where Andrews was assigned a year and a half ago. Sawyer has known Andrews for a long time, and the two were promoted together.

“He’s a leader and that’s what I like most about him,” Sawyer said. “He’s not afraid to say what he thinks; he is direct and speaks the truth with respect.”

Sawyer praised Andrews for his style of attacking the problem rather than ignoring it or sweeping it under the rug. “There is no obstacle he cannot overcome.”

This was the case with Station 6. Andrews saw visual deficiencies and the need to change the organizational culture, so he wasted no time transforming the facility into a place worthy of its residents.

Similarly, Sawyer recalled a training session during which Andrews showed leadership by stepping into a difficult situation and steering it back on track.

“He took an activity that was supposed to be a waste of a day for everyone and made it a valuable experience for everyone,” Sawyer said.

Now he is a mentor himself

This hands-on approach to fellow firefighters, subordinates and firefighters in training further embodies that Andrews is more than just a good storyteller.

“This gives other crew members the opportunity to train new employees – teach them skills so they can take over his responsibilities in the future,” Sawyer said.

“(Andrews) is as tired as you are, but he’s still going to give it his all,” Sawyer added. “He’s the model you should emulate.”

True to his direct approach, Andrews isn’t the type to sugarcoat the deal by writing a report on a team member. Where others might be afraid or too lazy to do what needs to be done, Sawyer said Andrews gets the job done.

“If a probationary firefighter is doing a bad job, he or she will write a real review,” Sawyer said, noting that he or she then has the necessary information to do a good job in the future.

This directness refers to his involvement in recruiting the next generation of Con Fire staff, from preparing for interviews with each candidate, arranging travel, ensuring that the tests are accurate and relevant to what the agency is looking for in candidates, and arranging meetings Zoom with new recruits and provide them with all the relevant information they need so they can make an informed and informed decision as to whether this profession and department is right for them.

“He’s strong leadership you can rely on,” Sawyer said.