WAXHAW, NC – Almost every little boy dreams of growing up to be just like his father. In the case of Brandon Cleary, he did just that. It seemed fitting to interview both of them. Brandon’s father Mark Cleary has been a Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for 28 years, while Brandon holds the title of Senior Firefighter and has been with WCVFD for 11 years . Mark grew up with the TV show Emergency. His first exposure to the fire service was at age 16 when he watched two of his friends wreck into a power pole and the fire department extricated them using all of the tools. The bug bit him then He did not find a volunteer agency until moving into Union County in 1993. He joined Wesley Chapel VFD and has also volunteered with Mineral Springs and Bakers fire departments in the past. Brandon grew up his whole life watching his dad run calls.. He was going with him on calls while still in a car seat and has always been around the fire service. As soon as he turned 16, Brandon joined as a junior firefighter and started to take firefighter and EMT certification classes.
Mark is a certified firefighter through The International Association of Fire Fighters and holds his North Carolina EMT. Brandon has earned a few specialty areas during his career, NC Firefighter 1 & 2, NC EMT-B, NC Technical Rescuer, NC Hazardous Materials Technician and NC Swift Water Rescue.
Mark’s favorite food is ribs, while Brandon prefers shrimp and grits or steak. When not working their full time jobs or volunteering at the firehouse, Mark owns a Corvette and participates in High Performance Driving events at several race tracks, Amateur Radio Operator KC4YOI, volunteers his time with the Advisory Board for Bleeding Disorders of North Carolina and Levine Cancer Institute Hemophilia Treatment Center and Brandon enjoys anything that involves sports or outdoors, including traveling to new places.
Mark enjoys changing things up when it comes to vacationing. The family enjoys the mountains, beach, car events and have been fortunate to visit France and England. Brandon prefers the beach with his wife and two dogs.
Mark’s primary job is Biomedical/Electronics Field Service but he joined the fire department to offer help to his neighbors in Union County. Brandon “honestly never really thought about doing anything else besides this but if I had to answer maybe something in the sports marketing field.”
Wesley Chapel residents have this tag team willing to help and probably will for many years to come.
Mark and Brandon’s Community Tip – Please remember the members of your community Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement and 911 who are here to protect you. Help them by slowing down and moving over for emergency vehicles.
