Firefighter and EMT, Boone County, Fire Protection District
Describing Ashley Kabler is a contradiction in terms. She’s an artist, model, wannabe mermaid, and budding e-commerce entrepreneur. But most of the time, she’s a firefighter, technical search specialist, incident commander, and EMT with a degree in biology from Mizzou. She works for the Boone County Fire Protection District, Timmerman Wildland Fire Services, and is a member of Missouri Task Force 1 which responds to floods, hurricanes, and other disasters throughout the country as a part of FEMA search and rescue response.
While she may look glamorous, the realities of her job are anything but; often sleeping on the ground, working 16-hour days, and not showering for weeks while fighting wildfires. As a technical search specialist, she uses state-of-the-art technology to find people in disaster zones, saving lives in Boone County and far beyond. Ashley is a force to be reckoned with.
“Ashley approaches her duties with an unparalleled commitment to excellence,” says Capt. Jeremiah Van Black of the Boone County Fire Protection District. “She is not only proficient in all firefighting techniques and protocols, but also displays an innate sense of care and compassion, especially in high-pressure situations. Her ability to remain calm under stress and prioritize the well-being of others is truly commendable.”
“Quitter” obviously isn’t in Ashley’s vocabulary. She’s proud of the obstacles she’s overcome, beginning with firefighter training academy where she carried practice dummies and went up stairs wearing seventy-five pounds of gear.
“The thought of quitting popped up in my mind more than once,” Ashley says. “But knowing I was in fact overcoming the demands pushed me to keep going. I knew I had made it this far and wanted to cross the finish line.”
Perhaps one of the best things Ashley does is inspire girls to become firefighters or any other roles traditionally filled by men.
“Her dedication to breaking gender barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field is admirable,” says Jeremiah. “She has become a true role model for those who aspire to follow in her footsteps.”
Whether those footsteps take her to First Fridays in the Arts District or into flames, Ashley isn’t afraid to let them carry her forward.
Age: 33
Fun Fact:
As a child, Ashley was obsessed with mermaids. As an adult, she became a certified SCUBA rescue diver since it was as close as she could get to being a mermaid.
