Carrying the flame: Cameron Cooper's journey & legacy in the OKC Fire Department

For many, being an Oklahoma firefighter is a career that they pursued, but for Cameron Cooper, it’s a career that chose him.

“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter. I was raised in the fire service, my dad was a firefighter out in Shawnee,” said Oklahoma City Firefighter Cameron Cooper.

He started as a volunteer firefighter in high school; now at 21, he’s the youngster at his station, but his drive was recognized immediately.

“Cameron is an impressive individual,” said Oklahoma City Firefighter Major Wiley Gabehart, Station 7.

Cooper, so impressive, that after less than three years of his employment with the Oklahoma City fire department Cameron signed up for the Oklahoma smoke divers’ program.

“It has kind of been said that it’s kind of like the Navy Seals of the fire service,” said Gabehart.

And of course, Cooper excelled

“We were getting reports back about what the instructors were saying about him, and it was just, he is the most impressive kid we’ve ever seen here,” said Gabehart.

Cooper is motivated by the weight of his dad’s legacy

“My drive to continue to be a good fireman and continue his legacy has been strong and I continue to try and make him proud every day with every decision I make,” said Cooper.

Sadly, his dad Craig Cooper. passed away from cancer four years ago this month. He was a lieutenant with the Shawnee fire department

“He had to retire early because of medical reasons, and he loved the fire service,” said Cooper.

Since being at station 7, Cooper had what they call a dry streak, meaning no fires, until last month.

“There’s not a firefighter out there that wants someone’s house to burn, but we enjoy going to fires and fighting fires, because that’s what we signed up to do,” said Cooper.

After the fire was out and with the dry streak over, Cooper had a moment to reflect

“Someone brought up, hey, isn’t today your dad’s birthday? And I was like, you know, it is, it sure is my dad's birthday,” said Cooper.

It was a moment of calm reassurance.

“Felt like a small gift down from heaven from him that he was still out there, still looking out for me,” said Cooper.

Cooper feels blessed to be a part of the Oklahoma City fire department, but if you ask his coworkers, it is really is the city that is blessed to have young firefighters like Cooper in the department.