Local Residents Protect the Community by Volunteering at Iberia Fire

IBERIA, Mo– Volunteers at Iberia Rural Fire Protection District (Iberia Fire) pursue their passion for protecting the community and providing necessary services in multiple different capacities.

From volunteering like Mikey Patro, to pursuing a career as a firefighter like Matt Gruber, there are numerous paths that Iberia residents can take to assist their community.

No matter how one chooses to serve their community, volunteering at Iberia Fire helps deliver the necessary fire safety and emergency services to those in dire need. Here are two of their stories:

Social Media Posts Inspires Iberia Resident to Become a Firefighter

When Mikey Patro was scrolling on social media and saw a post from a volunteer at

Iberia Fire, it was a sign. Patro knew that there was no better time than now for him to take a chance and explore something that has always been on his mind– being a firefighter.

“I have thought about it since I was in high school when my cousin volunteered for another local fire department and he really enjoyed it,” said Patro. “I am somewhat introverted, and now that I work full-time from home building cabinetry, I thought it would be a good thing for someone to volunteer that will be around all day, just in case a fire were to happen.”

Patro was born in Texas, but has resided in Missouri since he was seven-years-old. He has been volunteering at the fire company for just over a year and has plans to attain his Firefighter 1 Certification.

Patro’s only child, his two-year-old son, Norman, is absolutely enamored with the firehouse and says he wants to be a firefighter just like his dad when he grows up.

“We cannot drive by the fire station without him being like ‘Ooh are the fire trucks there?’” said Patro.

The first serious, major incident that Patro responded to was a car accident– a truck rolled over, killing the driver of the vehicle.

The eye-opening incident showed Patro not only just how precious human life is, but also, how vital it is for people like himself to provide the necessary emergency services to those in need.

“There are a lot of reasons why someone should volunteer, but really, it is about helping other people,” said Patro. “The leadership is very knowledgeable, and always willing to teach and help the volunteers.”

From Volunteer to Career Firefighter: Matt Gruber’s Pathway to Serving his Community

Matt Gruber always wanted to help his community and be a firefighter, but the tragic car accident that took his nephew’s life was the catalyst behind his decision to ultimately begin volunteering at Iberia Fire. Gruber wanted to prevent the tragedy that his family experienced from happening to other families, so he dedicated his time towards providing life-saving, emergency resources to those in need.

Gruber has been volunteering at Iberia for ten years and has a mountain of experience providing emergency services to the community. Two years after Gruber began volunteering at Iberia Fire, he was awarded the Firefighter of the Year Award for the Fire District.

He previously attended EMT school and subsequently was employed as an EMT for Pulaski County Ambulance District. The moment he saw a chance to become a career firefighter through Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District, Gruber took the opportunity and ran with it.

“I have my Firefighter I and II, Fire Investigator, Fire Service Instructor I and II, Fire Inspector and Fire Officer I and II Certifications,” said Gruber. “Once I got my Firefighter I and II and a slot opened up, I went for it and I have been a full-time, career firefighter ever since.”

Despite becoming a full-time, career position through Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District, Gruber remains a firefighter with Iberia Fire.

When Gruber isn’t at the fire station, he likes to hunt, fish, and fit in as much family time as possible. He has six children, four step daughters and two biological sons, and five grandchildren.

“They all know when we are at home and my pager goes off, it’s time for me to go,” said Gruber.

Both of Gruber’s sons, Matthew, 15, and Michael, 14, are junior volunteers through the Junior Cadet Program at Iberia Fire, following in their dad’s footsteps.

Gruber encourages Iberia locals to volunteer with the fire department to not only help their neighbors, family, friends and other community members, but to also gain meaningful relationships and experiences with the fire family.

Opportunities to Volunteer at Iberia Fire

To kickstart a volunteer journey like Patro and Gruber, community members should give volunteer firefighting a try! Volunteers have the opportunity to train with and learn from seasoned firefighters. No experience is required to apply, and all training and equipment are provided to volunteers free of charge.

However, volunteering at Iberia Fire is not exclusively geared towards just fighting fires. In fact, plenty of volunteers assist the fire department in non-emergency roles.

Iberia Fire has the following roles available for potential volunteers:

Volunteer Firefighter: Volunteer firefighters can expect to learn practical skills in operating and using tools, including driving emergency vehicles, performing search and rescue operations and learning basic first-aid skills.

Administrative Volunteer: Administrative volunteers assist in the many areas that keep the department running smoothly, including incident reporting, recruitment and retention and event planning.

Firehouse Maintenance Volunteer: Firehouse maintenance volunteers assist with keeping the fire station and equipment in top condition by providing groundskeeping, cleaning and vehicle maintenance.

Learn more by visiting IberiaFire.org. Fill out a volunteer inquiry form and you will be invited to learn more!