Firefighter Journal: Dan Barnhart

Dan Barnhart has always had a penchant for physical activity that challenged him with a reasonable risk to reward ratio: whether it was athletics in high school; renovating and building homes, as a professional contractor; or assisting in a rescue, as a Canton volunteer firefighter. He’s always known what he wanted to do with his life. However, it wasn’t necessarily a straight path to get there.

Barnhart always knew he’d run his own business – someday. And, that he’d be part of the fire service in town – someday. But, life got busy. Work got busy.  Then a series of events, turning points, stopped Barnhart in his tracks with the looming question, “if not now, then when.” These events projected him forward to do what he wanted to be all along.

Barnhart grew up in Canton knowing he’d work in construction. “I was always building things.” The first thing he remembers building was a tree house, with his two brothers. He was eight years old.

After graduating from Canton High School, Barnhart attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, earning a BS in construction engineering. He stayed in Boston for about a year, working at a commercial firm, restoring historic brownstones in the South End.

Back in Canton, Barnhart began working for a local contractor on some of the most prestigious projects in the area. Nearly 20 years later, Barnhart found himself working 70 hours a week with the same contractor. “I was putting everything I had into someone else’s business.” So while continuing his work for the contractor, and with the blessing of his boss, Barnhart began taking on his own side projects.

“My father had always encouraged me to start my own business. He’d say, ‘you don’t want to waste 20 years of your life working for someone else.’ So when my father passed away, I thought to myself, what am I waiting for? If not now, then when? So, I opened Barnhart & Barnhart in 2005.”

When asked who the other ‘& Barnhart’ is, the answer came quickly. “It’s the guy who kept telling me to open my own business, my father. For now.”

One of the first things Barnhart did, as a new small business owner, was make a donation to a fundraiser, that local businessman Jim Volovski was running, to purchase a new ambulance for the Town of Canton Volunteer Fire & EMS Department. “I’d been around the fire service my whole life. My father was a volunteer firefighter. I always admired the hard work, the camaraderie and their ability to make a significant impact on the community. I was too busy with the new business to join the Department at that point, so I figured this donation was something I could do.”

Life and work continued to be busy. Barnhart married Kathy Beach, a certified athletic trainer and exercise physiologist, in October, 2008. In February, 2009 Barnhart’s brother David suddenly passed away. Very shortly after, Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Now, she’s a survivor and doing well. But, it was a rough road.” When Barnhart came out of the, “shock, sadness and fog,” of 2008/2009, he decided to live life even more fully. That’s when he joined Canton’s Volunteer Fire & EMS Department. He was 47 years old. “If not now, then when?”

“The fire service has been a great fit for me physically. I am used to the physical, hands-on challenge of this type of work. You really feel alive when you work your body to its capacity. I’m also able to contribute my knowledge of construction; and my ability to manage complex situations and work with different types of people.”

“And, I like the adrenaline rush of waking up, in the middle of the night, to go help someone else. I’m pretty easy going in a pinch and like the sense of accomplishment. I love this town, so I’m glad to have the opportunity to give back.”

An added benefit for Barnhart is that his son Jesse joined the Department, shortly after he did. They even attended the Fire Academy together for their interior certifications. “I remember one call to a motor vehicle accident. Jesse and I arrived on different fire trucks, so I didn’t know he was on the scene. I was on one side of the car focused on the job I was doing. I looked up and recognized the hands of the firefighter assisting the driver, from the other side of the car. It was Jesse. It meant a lot to me.”

What’s next for Barnhart? “One day I want to volunteer with an organization that works to improve people’s lives by building schools or medical clinics. I also may look into going out west to help fight forest fires. I like being busy. I like a plate that’s overflowing with life.”

About Town asked what General Contractor-Barnhart would advise Canton volunteer firefighter-Barnhart, (and visa versa). “Never give up. Persevere. Figure out what’s next. What could happen?”

Here’s the Deal

Barnhart & Barnhart; 860-693-1231. 

Town of Canton Volunteer Fire & EMS Department; Chief Richard Hutchings, 860-693-7858: www.cantonfireandems.org.