A catchy song from Sesame Street extols the virtues of the people in your neighborhood, “the people that you meet each day,” and focuses on different occupations. Thus inspired, the Pilot presents the “People in your neighborhood” series, to highlight people who make Whitefish a special place. 

There's a 20-year-old photo on the wall at the Whitefish Fire Department of a group of preschoolers visiting the station. The smiling girl in the front row is 4-year-old Annie Nixon. 

Now, Nixon works as a firefighter/paramedic in the department.  

“I came on tours here all of the time, through first, second and third grade, and now I'm the one teaching the tours, which is pretty cool,” Nixon said. “So, it's kind of a full circle there and it’s great.” 

Touring the fire department in grade school obviously influenced her life in a grand way. 

“I just remember them putting on one of the turnout coats just to see how big it was compared to me,” she said. “And with me standing up, it was still sagging on the floor because it was just so big.”  

Turnouts are fire gear that provides some protection from the heat and other hazards. Once the other required tools are added, a firefighter’s gear can weigh up to 150 pounds. 

At the time, she could not imagine ever being able to fit in that impressive coat. Nixon recalls playing with toy fire trucks as a child and being struck by the massive size of the real trucks and the loudness of the sirens on those school field trips. 

“When I was 16 years old, I did a ride along here and it was really fun,” she said. “I actually rode along with the shift I work with now.” 

That ride solidified her belief that she was meant to be a firefighter.  

“I was going to do a ride along with the cops and I just cancelled that,” she said. “I knew exactly what I wanted to do.” 

After graduating from Whitefish High School in 2020, she went to college, trained as an EMT, became a paramedic and volunteered with the department for two years before being hired full time three years ago. 

“I’m working with all the coworkers that I just idolized when I was 16,” said Nixon, who describes herself as a local, through and through, and called Whitefish her heart town.  

“It's very nice to be able to provide for the community that provided for me growing up,” she said. “It's almost like living the dream every day.” 

The department has three shifts, each with six firefighters. Nixon, the only woman on her shift, says she works with a bunch of dads and brothers. 

“It's been really good to be able to live with your crew because then you not only are just coworkers, but you’re family,” she said. “I expect them to keep me safe and I'm going to keep them safe.”

Nixon said each fire and each call are different. Her description of what it feels like to be close to a big structure fire caused the room to feel warm as if it was running out of air.

“When you're standing by a campfire, it's pretty hot, but if a whole house is on fire, it's just unbelievable," she said. “You can feel the heat through your mask, and you can just feel the heat through your gear.”

The wild, seemingly unpredictable nature of the job is attractive to Nixon. She also likes the less death-defying moments, like leading school group tours during Fire Prevention Week. 

"It’s always fun seeing the little kids’ reactions and touring them around the station,” she said. “Their favorite thing is when somebody goes down the fire pole. You're the celebrity of the show if you go down the fire pole.” 

The 4-year-old Annie Nixon has become a strong, trustworthy team player for the Whitefish Fire Department. 

"I love this job and this department, and these people and this town,” Nixon said. “Even though it's changed a ton, it's still my home. It still has a huge place in my heart and always will.”