It’s been a couple of months since new firefighter-paramedics Nickolas Cantalupo and Nicolette Anciulis had their Swearing-In Ceremony. So far, they’re on fire, working to complete their orientation. For both, Plant City Fire Rescue is their first job in the public safety field.
And, they’re happy to be part of the family.
Nickolas Cantalupo
When the tones went off, Nickolas Cantalupo was ready. In record time, he pulled on his protective gear and jumped in the engine.
This was it. Cantalupo’s first structure fire.
It was also the first opportunity he would get to prove himself to his crew as Plant City Fire Rescue’s newest hire.
“There was excitement,” Cantalupo said. “I had the jitters a little. But just from doing the training in school, it was repetitive. It came to me naturally. The biggest thing is listening to orders.”
Arriving at the call, the crew found a two-story historic home off of Reynolds Street engulfed in flames. His captain and the person responsible for his training, Jeff Griggs, prepare his crew for the oncoming danger.
“When we came down, you could see the flames from across the street,” Griggs said. “I said, ‘Big fire, big water, guys.’”
It was only Cantalupo’s 13th shift. But, he handled himself well, helping the crew extinguish the exterior flames, so Griggs and others could venture inside.
“Being a new captain, he’s my first rookie,” Griggs said. “I couldn’t ask for a better one. After one month together, I said, ‘You’ve got it. You’ve got what it takes. Don’t let it go.’”
Now, every time Cantalupo talks about the fire, his face lights up. It’s been a long time coming. As far back as he can remember, he’s been chasing his father, Alex, around the house in a firefighter’s gear. Alex’s gear.
Serving 19 years and counting as a firefighter, Alex was there to pin the badge on his son during his Swearing-In Ceremony March 10.
“For both of us, it was a great feeling,” Cantalupo said. “I’m starting the second generation of firefighting. Maybe my brother or even my own kid will continue it, too.”
After graduating from high school in just three years, the Deerfield Beach native knew exactly what he wanted to study next. He attended Broward Fire Academy and then paramedic school at Broward Community College, in Coconut Creek.
“One of the things that stood out about Nick was his grit,” EMT Chief Jim Wilson said.
In just 20 shifts, he’s kept that grit alive. In addition to the structure fire, he’s also encountered several brush fires and helped save two girls who were hit by a car.
Nicolette Anciulis
It’s been a long road for Nicolette Anciulis. She’s had a slew of other unusual jobs before she finally ended up in a firehouse.
Anciulis spent her college days with her head buried in science textbooks, proving she has brains as well as brawn. She studied genetic engineering and chemistry at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. The major was directing her in the career path as a researcher. But for her, that wasn’t enough.
“It was kind of boring,” Anciulis said. “I’m already kind of A.D.D. I’ve got to be doing something.”
So, while she was on vacation in Orlando, she visited a job fair with the hopes of calling Florida her permanent home. The Coal City, Ill., native wouldn’t have to deal with snow for long after that. She scored a job at a bakery making treats, such as chocolate frogs, for the amusement parks.
But, she still felt there was another calling.
Finding a job at HCR Manor Care, in Winter Park, Anciulis worked as a nursing assistant. One day, a patient was complaining of difficulty breathing. When they called 911, Anciulis watched as paramedics arrived on scene.
“EMTs came and took her way,” Anciulis said. “I wanted to do it since then. My whole family thought I was crazy.”
Her whole family, except for her grandfather, Robert Soukup, who retired as a lieutenant from the Chicago Fire Department.
“He said, ‘Do what makes you happy,’” she said.
That’s exactly what Anciulis did. She studied at Central Florida Fire Academy and Orlando Medical Institute before getting a job as a firefighter paramedic at Plant City Fire Rescue. She’s the first woman hire in about five years.
“She raised herself to the very top of all of (the applicants),” Wilson said. “The job of a firefighter is unique in that you’re quite literally trusting your life with the people you work with. A new hire needs to fit in and she does fit in. We know we can count on her.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.