Fallen Irmo firefighter began his career training early, was a high school ‘role model’

James Michael Muller began training for a career in firefighting at a young age, enrolling as a high school student in the firefighting program at the Lexington Technology Center, according to a Facebook post from the Irmo Fire District.

The Facebook post said that after Muller moved to South Carolina, he transferred to the technology center in Lexington District One from a school that didn’t offer firefighting courses. His experience was a little different from other students — it was supposed to be a two-year program, but Muller convinced administrators to let him do it in one. “His interest in firefighting was that strong,” according to the Facebook post.

He was named the school’s “Student of the Year” in 2016.

At that time, Muller was interning for the Irmo Fire District every afternoon and was a member of the Lexington County Fire Service Explorers. He later applied for state and national certifications.

A technology center instructor said Muller “executes all tasks displaying a high degree of professionalism and in a very enthusiastic manner” and described him as “an excellent mentor and role model for other students and (he) naturally rises to leadership rolls when working in groups.”

A TikTok video of Muller, which was posted by Passion for the Craft, a fire service training organization, illustrated his passion for firefighting. In the video, Muller appears to be talking to other firefighters, possibly volunteers.

“You have to re-dedicate yourself every single day,” Muller said in the video. “When you raise your right hand ... it’s an oath, it’s a commitment, it’s a living.”

Muller called being a firefighter “the best job in the world,” and said “if you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.”