Smyrna Firefighter Tim Grubaugh: Compassion is key in this profession

Editor’s note: The Smyrna Public Safety Foundation's Auction for Heroes Gala is approaching in less than three weeks. This Sept. 10 event at Brawner Hall promises to be a night of food and fun with live music from Wesley Cook and Kingsized. Join Honorary Chairman, Smyrna Mayor, A. Max Bacon, and the residents and businesses of Smyrna in honoring and supporting our city's public safety "heroes" at this gala fundraising event. Auction items include trips to Paris, Africa, and Mexico, jewelry, art and lots of other great things. For more information on this great event see here.

City of  Smyrna Firefighter/Paramedic/Relief Driver Tim Grubaugh is honored here as the “Hero of the Week” by the Smyrna Auction for Heroes Gala Committee.

“My grandfather was a firefighter for over 50 years,” Grubaugh said, “the last 12 years as chief.” Because of this influence, Grubaugh believes, “I was lucky to grow up with such an ‘insider’s exposure’ to the fire service.”

This exposure led him to know that, “I always wanted to serve the public as a firefighter. I just love it and feel blessed to be able to do it.” 

He’s sometimes called “Chewy,” short for Chewbacca of “Star Wars’’ fame. He said when he yawns, sometimes he makes a growling noise like Chewbacca. But the name mainly comes from him being “big and hairy.” He even has a small stuffed Chewbacca dangling from the rear of his firefighter’s helmet. “It’s my little rabbit’s foot. A good luck charm. It’s been through lots of fires with me, and nothing bad has happened, so it works.” (Look closely at the accompanying picture, and you’ll see Chewy on Grubaugh’s helmet.)

He reported that “it’s exciting just being in this profession.” He finds “the first time doing something a charge,” whether it is professional—such as his first big fire, his first really big fire, training on the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC)—or personal, as in his daughter’s birth.

When “the tones drop” to call out the team, he realizes that “somebody is usually having a rough day.” And he believes that dealing with that “somebody” with compassion can make a difference.

“To really reap the true benefits of this line of work requires one to have a heart for human beings.” He said that a number of the responses he’s been on “didn’t require a water supply, a cardiac monitor, or a gas detector; it just took having compassion for the individual.” Compassion is an integral part of his job, he believes, and he added, “I hope and pray someone responding to take care of one of my family members would have it as well.” 

With 11 years total service, two in Smyrna, Grubaugh’s training includes as a National Professional Qualification (NPQ) Firefighter II and as a NPQ FFII Instructor. He is also qualified as a relief driver. His medical training includes that of a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Paramedic in 2005, the same year he received the Firefighter/Medic of the Year award for his service in Chatham County.