Super Kid: Lake Stevens student fired up about firefighting

LAKE STEVENS — Henry McRae Blankenship, 18, is a senior and a lifeguard at Lake Stevens High School.

Question: How is senior year going?

Answer: It’s going pretty well. So far I got accepted into the college I wanted, so I’ve just been focused on keeping my grades up and graduating.

Q: Which college?

A: University of Alaska Fairbanks. They have a really good student firefighter program.

Q: You come from a fire service family?

A: Yes, I do. From a really, really young age, it’s just made me want to be a firefighter. I’ve never wanted to do anything else. I’ve spent a lot of time at my dad’s fire station since I was really little. I still do.

Q: You volunteered after the Oso mudslide?

A: I had recently graduated from a Community Emergency Response Team class. I called my director … he said they could use all the help they could get … I put some shovels and rain boots in the back of my car and drove up there. My first task was evacuating the surrounding homes and (moving) livestock. Then I was sent to do some light search-and-rescue, nothing I wasn’t trained for. After that, I was the Arlington fire chief’s aide in the command center … then I was staffing Oso’s fire engine until about 2 or 3 in the morning.

Q: Are you a volunteer firefighter anywhere now?

A: I’m a fire explorer right now for District 4, that’s Snohomish.

Q: Do you have your eye on any specialty units, such as hazardous materials or technical rescue?

A: It all really interests me. My goal, my dream, is after college to work for the Seattle Fire Department on a truck company.

Q: What are your academic strengths or weaknesses?

A: It used to be a struggle for me to do homework. I would get everything done in class and I would pass all my tests but I would get home and decide there were more fun things to do, but for the past three years or so, I’ve definitely turned that around and made sure I tried to pass all my classes with at least a B.

Q: Any clubs, sports or other school activities?

A: I’ve been a varsity swimmer the past two years. My best friend was a swimmer when I was a sophomore … he ended up convincing me to try out for the team the next year. I did and for some reason, I did really well. At the end of that year, I won the Wesco North 4A breaststroke championship and got a varsity letter. No special awards at the end of this season but I did letter again.

Q: Have you had an adult in your life whom you’ve really looked up to?

A: That’d be my great aunt Joy Hunt. She’s just always told me to do the right thing and never to lie to people. She just taught me how to be a good person.

Q: What made you decide to go to college?

A: I personally feel that a degree in emergency management will make me more desirable for hiring in the future or for promotion, and give me skills to help people and keep myself safe.

Q: Do you have a favorite book?

A: I’m not sure why but it’s “My Side of the Mountain” (by Jean Craighead George). When I was young, I always dreamt about running off to the wilderness and living on my own.

Q: What about siblings?

A: I’ve got two of them, a younger brother, he’s a sophomore here, and a little sister, she’s 12. They get on my nerves sometimes, but I love them. They’re family.

Q: Any plans for summer?

A: The firefighter academy in Fairbanks, Alaska. Right before that I’m going to Denmark, for a family trip.

Q: Do you have Scandinavian heritage?

A: I don’t know the exact amount, but I am Norwegian.

Q: Does your family celebrate any Norwegian traditions?

A: A lot of Norwegian foods: cookies, fish, strange meats.

Q: Have you had a favorite class in high school?

A: It’s always been math for some reason. It just really clicks with me. It comes easy and naturally. I’ve got a really good teacher this year, Mr. (Todd) Martina.

Q: Any other goals for life?

A: Right now I’m just super excited about doing everything I can to be a firefighter. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more than that.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.