Three and a half decades in the fire service is a lifetime commitment most of us can barely fathom. For Firefighter/Paramedic Jan A. “Jay” Sanders Jr., it was simply what dedication looked like.
Charlotte County is saying goodbye this week to one of its most respected public servants. Sanders passed away on June 18 following a battle with occupational cancer—a sobering reminder that the job we ask firefighters and paramedics to do carries costs most of us never see coming. The cancer that claimed him is the kind of invisible occupational hazard that quietly stalks those who run into burning buildings, exposed to countless toxins and smoke over decades of service.
What made Sanders stand out wasn’t just his 35 years at Charlotte County Fire & EMS, though that’s remarkable in itself. He was the kind of leader who mentored the next generation, the kind of professional who answered the call even beyond Florida’s borders, deploying to help with wildland fire operations across the western United States. He wasn’t content to clock in and clock out—he showed up as a mentor, a leader, and someone who understood that this job was bigger than himself.
The region is honoring Sanders with his Last Alarm on Thursday, June 25, at noon at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda. Firefighters and emergency responders from across the region will participate in a procession that reflects the kind of brotherhood that defines public safety work. The public is invited to safely observe and pay respects along the route—details to be announced in the coming days.
It’s easy to take for granted the people who show up for us on our worst days. Sanders was one of those people, for 35 years running. More information and memorial resources are available at www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov/JaySanders.
