I don't think any of the firefighters keep this job just for the pay. They take pride in being firefighters.

I'll be working with everybody so I'll get to know fairly well what different issues are coming up in the stations. I'll just be going from the field to the office more. I have to thank Tim (Bragg, who retired last week as assistant fire chief with 28 years at MFD). He prepared me well for the office end of this.

I grew up on a farm so I thought driving a fire truck would be like handling a grain truck. But the first time I was behind the wheel of a fire truck, I was awestruck by the responsibility. Sure you can run a stoplight, but you have to make sure the intersection is clear before you do. That's when I realized each level you reach in the fire department brings on new responsibility. And there are more people under your wing.

With 9/11, it brought more to the public's attention there could be a call that firefighters might not come back from.

What's cool is he has dreadlocks. That makes piano OK in rock, if the piano player looks cool.

We thought it would do OK, but we weren't sure. We didn't have a crystal ball, and we didn't say, 'Oh yeah, it's a smash.' We liked the song but didn't know if it would be the best to debut the album with. But there is something special about the song. People caught onto it.