Haley Langford Kearnes

July 2024 Issue
by Edwina Hoyle
Photography by Lindsay Pettinicchi Photography, LLC

 

Imagine a huge fire engine, horns blaring, lights flashing–and tin cans tied to the back bumper as it whisks away a beautiful bride and smiling groom. On May 18, Lieutenant Haley Langford married another firefighter, Dalton Kearnes, in Beaufort. “It was a dream for both of us. We had a perfect ceremony and then danced the night away to the music of Deas Guyz,” Haley reminisced.

Haley chose a wedding gown with lots of buttons down the back. As the big day approached, she became a little melancholy, worrying about who would help with her dress because she always thought it would be her mother, whom she lost to Covid in 2021. She wanted to honor her mom at the wedding and decided it would be through her “something blue.” So she created her “Mom-tourage,” a group of 16 women who all wore blue. “They were mine and Mom’s favorite women—best friends, aunts, women who have looked after me my whole life. They made my wedding even more special.”

After Haley and Dalton returned from their honeymoon in St. Lucia, they hit the ground running to their respective fire stations—-Haley in Levy and Dalton in Ridgeland. They are both paramedics and firefighters. “Dalton is supportive of me, passionate about his job, and very intelligent.”

At the Jasper County Fire & Rescue station in Levy, SC, Haley is the Lieutenant in charge of her shifts. “The 24/48-hour schedule appealed to me. I started as a volunteer when I moved home to help care for my grandmother who was in and out of nursing homes. I graduated from Liberty University in Virginia and was working at Pacific Life Insurance. That job solidified it for me that an office job wasn’t it. Sitting in a cubicle working—I hated it. I wanted to be a firefighter.”

Haley has served in that capacity for five years and is the only woman at her fire station. “I take pride in my work. The department has grown and is hiring young people right out of high school. Sometimes you’re not just teaching about firefighting and EMS, you’re teaching life skills too.

Her typical day starts at 8 a.m. with a staff meeting, after which all apparatus must be checked—ambulance, fire engine and tanker. Mornings on duty consist of training and workouts. The fire training program involves pulling hoses, throwing ladders, driver training, pumping, medical training, and strategies and tactics instruction to map out situational objectives.

At 120-pounds (200-pounds with gear), Haley can show her team a technique to move a 6'4", 250-pound man using only his wrists. “Size doesn’t matter, but cardiovascular health is very important. And because of my size, I’m good in confined spaces. Our functional fitness training includes weights and cardio circuits, lifting, using battle ropes, and even yoga and stretching.”

Haley said she loves her active job. “I don’t sit still. This is a team-oriented job. My team members are like brothers and sisters to me. I live with them for 1/3 of my life. I enjoy that dynamic. It’s rewarding work, and I get to help people.”

Haley said some firefighters serve as first responders and others move on to become EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians). She earned her status as an EMT within weeks of being hired. Then during Covid, she quickly accelerated to earn her Paramedic Certification in just over 11 months.

“A paramedic is responsible for the safety of the patient, their partner, and the patient’s family. A paramedic is like a ‘doc in a box.’ It’s more advanced than an EMT. I can intubate, place IV’s, and administer narcotics. Being a paramedic prepared me for my role as a lieutenant where I also have administrative and personnel responsibilities.”

The best part of Haley’s 24-hour day, though, is sharing meals with her team. “We eat lunch and dinner together, and on our second day, we eat brunch together. We say a prayer over our meals and then use that time to get to know each other. We talk about life, work, and sometimes, we determine who isn’t allowed to cook again! We are a family and it’s our home away from home. I love my guys and they make me a better person and leader every single shift.”

 

Up Close:

• A self-described tomboy, Haley played soccer and volleyball in high school and was on a softball travel team. She also raced carts on dirt tracks in Georgia.

• The newlyweds enjoy traveling, boating on the Chechessee River, crabbing, gathering oysters, and hunting.

• The couple’s newest pastime is pickleball. They have discovered a special getaway called The Pickle Bar in Summerville, S.C., a southern-inspired restaurant and sports bar with pickleball courts and outdoor space with live music and games.