BTFD has ensured all of Burlington Township will know about their fiercest firefighter by naming their newest engine after the honorary firefighter with his nickname “Dominator” adorning the side of the truck.
Seven-year-old Dominic Mazzio has always had a fascination with firefighters and police officers, according to his mother Ashley. She said he dreamed about being a firefighter, but battles with transverse myelitis and an inoperable brain tumor threatened that dream.
Nearly a year ago, however, the Burlington Township Fire Department granted Dominic’s wish by making him an honorary firefighter. Today, the department has ensured all of Burlington Township will know about its fiercest firefighter by naming its newest engine after the honorary firefighter with his nickname “Dominator” adorning the side of the truck.
Mazzio said her family’s relationship with the fire department started a few years ago when she reached out to the Burlington Township Fire Department about potentially having a fire truck swing by Dominic’s birthday party. She said at the time they were also celebrating one year of stability.
In 2013, Dominic woke up completely paralyzed. Mazzio said the family later found out Dominic had transverse myelitis — a neurological disease that attacks the spinal cord affecting the immune system. He spent months re-learning to walk, and doctors monitored him closely with MRIs every three months. In 2014, an MRI found a small lesion, which the family would later find out from the doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was an inoperable brain tumor.
Mazzio said doctors informed her and her husband James that chemotherapy would have little to no effect, but amazingly, proton radiation stopped the tumor’s growth. She said her son’s spirit and tenacity throughout the experience earned him a nickname.
“Through his determination, through it all, he ended up as ‘Dominator,’” Mazzio said.
After a year of stability, Mazzio said she wanted to do something special for her son. She emailed the BTFD hoping for a response, and much to her surprise, the department was not only willing but brought three stations’ worth of trucks and several Burlington Township police squad cars to Dominic’s birthday. She said they came out again last year in full force, even shutting down the street in the process.
Since then, the Mazzio family makes trips to Independent Fire Company every Wednesday. About a year ago, Capt. Kyle Hinkel approached the Board of Fire Commissioners about making Dominic an honorary member.
Director of Fire Services John Stewart said the board was more than happy to grant Dominic’s wish.
“At his young age, he has shown the bravery of the best in facing his personal struggles,” Stewart said. “Every time I see him at the fire station, he has a smile on his face.”
Mazzio said they gave Dominic an official Burlington Township firefighter’s uniform and helmet with his name on it. She said her son was thrilled.
Today, Dominic is stable and attending B. Bernice Young Elementary School. On his family’s visit to the firehouse on May 31, Hinkel informed Dominic he had a surprise for him and revealed the name “Dominator” on the side of the newest engine.
“It was cool,” Dominic said excitedly.
Hinkel said he had seen similar tributes on engines in other towns and approached the department with his idea.
Burlington Township firefighter Rich Kerr said Dominic has impacted the lives of everyone at the department. Kerr said the relationship between Dominic and the fire department has been a mutually beneficial one. He said since the department is staffed solely by volunteers who work at other jobs as well, members can feel run down at times, but when they see Dominic’s infectious smile, all of those feelings dissipate.
Kerr said he’s excited for people to ask about the meaning behind the name Dominator.
“It’s awesome for us to be able to show that not only is he a member, but everywhere we go we get to tell the story,” Kerr said. “He’s beaten every odd that’s come his way.”
