Thirty years ago, Kevin Alajoki decided to become a firefighter because of a woman.
His then-girlfriend’s uncle told Kevin, “If you want to impress her, you should become a firefighter.”
So he did. Taking that chance paid off and has led him on a career of battling fires for more than two decades at the Ashland Fire Department, where he now is a captain. Alajoki has no regrets about the life he has chosen with that girlfriend — now his wife, Carrie. And now another woman, his daughter, has answered the same call.
Unlike her father, Ryanne Alajoki didn’t join the department to impress someone. She has always been around the flashing lights and sirens and wanted to be a part of the life. “It’s like when you play with toys and think that’s super cool. I never stopped playing with toys,” she said.
Like her father, her nature causes her to run toward danger when other people are running from it.
“I like helping people and being able to help someone’s day be a little better,” she said.