- April 17, 2024
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Eagle Scout candidate Andrew Wheeler has two passions in life: scouting and fire services. He used the passion for one to fuel the other, leading a group of volunteers to make three bunker gear dryers and donate them to local fire departments to earn the highest achievement attainable through the Boy Scouts of America.
“No, I didn’t make the dryers,” said Wheeler, a Life Scout with Troop 281 that is chartered with Trinity Presbyterian Church. “I oversaw every aspect of the project, but I didn’t help make them.”
Those working towards Eagle are not permitted to “touch” their projects while under construction, explained Wheeler’s Eagle Scout mentor, Pack 281 Cubmaster Drew Hardesty, who is also a lieutenant with Flagler County Fire Rescue.
“He was a project manager, if you will,” Hardesty said. “Becoming an Eagle Scout is about leadership. When they do these projects, they lead their teams but are not involved in the actual building.”
Wheeler, 17, is a senior at Flagler Palm Coast High School and has been enrolled in the Fire Leadership Academy since his freshman year. The academy is a partnership between Flagler Schools and Flagler County Fire Rescue.
Over the course of two weekends, his team of adults and scouts built three bunker gear dryers. Wheeler used plans passed along to him from Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker.
Initially, one bunker gear dryer was to go to each of the county’s three fire departments: Flagler Beach, Palm Coast and Flagler County. Instead, two went to Flagler County Fire Rescue – Station 62 in Bunnell and Station 41 in the Hammock – and one to Station 11 in Flagler Beach.
“(Palm Coast Chief Kyle Berryhill) was gracious and donated the one for Palm Coast to Flagler County,” Tucker said. “He said they have ample dryers at the Palm Coast stations.”
Wheeler had to raise $4,500 to purchase the materials for the three dryers.
“This was the most challenging part,” he said. “I got contributions from the Flagler County Fire Union (International Association of Fire Fighters 4337), the Palm Coast Fire Union (IAFF 4807) and the Flagler Beach Volunteer Firemen’s Association.”
Wheeler’s project began in November 2021 when he made his initial presentation to Tucker, Berryhill and Flagler Beach Fire Chief Bobby Pace. All three chiefs gave their approval, which was necessary for the project to commence.
Pulling together workable plans, raising money, and assembling his team of volunteers took the bulk of the time.
“It just took three days in December for the volunteers to build them once we were ready,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler delivered the dryers on Jan. 8. He returned to Station 62 on Feb. 3 to formally present the completed project to Chief Tucker.
All that remains for Wheeler to complete his Eagle Scout application is to do his Scoutmaster Conference and finally sit before a Board of Review of area adults.
“This gave him valuable leadership experience in the troop and in the community, said his scoutmaster, Jason Wheeler, who is also Andrew's father. “All of the fire chiefs were so supportive of the project. I am extremely proud of all the scouts who achieve Eagle. As his father, I am especially proud of Andrew. He has taken the two things that are his passion and has worked hard to succeed at both.”
