Fourteen-year-old Briella Neidermyer is making her own way, forging her own path.

Because his example is providing guiderails for his daughter's journey, her father, Kirk Neidermyer, derives a lot of parental pride from that emerging independence. That he gets to share in her developmental experiences is a sheer delight.

"I think doing this with Briella will make our relationship even stronger," said Kirk. "We'll have a bond in a different way. She's my firstborn and only daughter. We get along. We respect each other. She listens and does what she's told."

The bond that Kirk and Briella share is firefighting and community service. Kirk has been a volunteer firefighter with Garden Spot Fire Rescue, 339 E. Main St., New Holland, for 25 years, while Briella, a ninth-grader at ELANCO Online Virtual Academy, has officially been a probationary firefighter for about three months.

But to say that Briella is following in her father's footsteps might be selling her individuality a bit short.

"My dad has always been one of the people I looked up to," said Briella. "I've always watched him run out of the house and put on that blue light. I'm very, very proud of him because when he shows up, he shows out and does stuff on the scene."

Briella spent parts of the last six summers attending a cadet camp designed for school-age youths interested in becoming first responders, learning about various pieces of firefighting apparatus, learning to roll hoses and engaging in firefighting techniques. Since becoming a probationary firefighter with Garden Spot Fire Rescue, she's gone out on a number of calls, for about a half-dozen of which Kirk has been the driver of the fire engine.

Because of her age, Briella is limited in the duties she can perform, so her main role has been to connect fire hydrants.

"She can't go inside (burning) buildings, and she can't go on runs involving heart attacks and vehicular accidents," said Kirk. "Right now, it's all a learning experience. Her main thing now is fire hydrants. She's a gofer. If someone needs help with something, she's going to help them with it. When I drop her off at the firehouse, I know she's in good hands. It's kind of like a second family."

"I think it's going really good," said Briella. "When I go on calls, I get to the station, get on my gear, I get on the fire truck, and when we get there, we all have certain roles. I'll start flowing water from a hydrant. I'm still learning - everyone is still learning. But if I have questions, I'll go to (my dad) and ask him because I trust him."

"I want people to see me as confident and independent," she added, "because when I show up, I do my best."

Garden Spot Fire Rescue couldn't do what it does without the service of 50 volunteers. Briella is one of only two active female first responders within the organization.

"Me and my dad have a really strong bond. We're close," said Briella. "Outside of firefighting, we do a lot of activities together, like softball. He'll help me with my schoolwork if I need it. We'll play video games together, and I'll just talk to him."

"She's 100% committed," said Kirk. "Any time she can go (to the fire station) to train and learn, she jumps on it. She's into it. I hope she stays that way, and I think she will."

Briella has her whole life ahead of her, and sometimes things change. But it could be that this shared firefighting experience with her dad is laying the groundwork for a career and maybe even a lifestyle.

"I've thought about being a flight nurse," said Briella. "Basically, a flight nurse is someone who goes to accidents in a helicopter. The helicopters transport people to hospitals, where they can get more care. There are courses I can take in high school, and I want to get all of my qualifications."

"I'm very proud of Briella," said Kirk. "She's come a long way. She's a very talented kid. I think it's important to let your kids follow their dreams and to support them in any way you can. Anything you can do with your kids is important. You just don't know what's going to happen."