When Paul Haynes responds to emergency calls in Herrin, he's not just serving any community—he's protecting the hometown that shaped him. As a Herrin firefighter celebrating his sixth anniversary with the department this year, Haynes represents the full-circle journey of a local graduate who has returned to serve the place where his roots run deep.

Born and raised in Herrin, Haynes graduated from Herrin High School in 2010 after attending Grace Christian School and Unity Christian School in his early educational years. His connection to the community spans generations—his father graduated from Herrin High School in the late 1980s, establishing a family legacy within the school district.

"I've always loved growing up in Herrin," Haynes reflects. "I love the small-town feel of it. Never been a big fan of cities, so staying somewhere where you kind of know a lot of the people around has always been something I enjoyed."

During his high school years, Haynes was deeply involved in athletics, playing baseball, basketball, and even serving as the kicker for the football team his senior year. These team experiences, he believes, helped prepare him for his current career.

"With team sports, you have to learn to get along with each other," Haynes explains. "On a fire scene, little quarrels that you might have with somebody are irrelevant because you have a bigger job to do in that moment. Firefighting is a team effort—there's so many different jobs that need to be done that not one person could do by themselves."

After graduation, Haynes pursued higher education at John A. Logan College, earning an Associate of Science degree. His educational path continued at Southern Illinois University, where he ultimately completed a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and criminology in 2017, after taking time off to support his wife Abby through her schooling.

His career path featured several interesting turns—from working as a bank teller at Banterra Bank to becoming a tree trimmer for the IBEW. Haynes was actually in the process of becoming a conservation officer, attending the police academy, when a hometown opportunity intervened. The Herrin Fire Department called with a job offer, setting him on his current path.

Since joining the department in 2019, Haynes has embraced the diverse responsibilities of modern firefighting. Beyond battling blazes, he serves on the MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) dive team, responding to underwater emergencies throughout the region. The fire department provided his scuba training, opening a new dimension to his service capabilities.

"It's not something I ever thought about before I got on the fire department—other things that fire departments do," Haynes says, noting that specialized teams handle technical rescues, hazardous materials, and underwater operations beyond the traditional firefighting role.

Haynes lives the 24-hours-on, 48-hours-off schedule typical of career firefighters, balancing his professional commitments with family life. He and Abby are raising three children—daughters Addie and Paisley, and son Finley. Their two oldest children attend Unity Christian School, where Haynes himself once studied.

What makes his journey particularly meaningful is witnessing the continuity of community across generations. Haynes now watches his children play sports alongside the children of his former classmates and teammates.

"After high school, you don't see those people a lot of times for a while because they go off to school or get busy doing different jobs," he says. "Now sports are kind of bringing us back together again. We're working together to raise the next generation of kids."

Both Paul and Abby coach youth sports, hoping to make a positive impact on young lives—just as his teachers and coaches once influenced him. He particularly credits his high school English teacher, Mr. Ewell, with preparing him for college through rigorous writing instruction.

For Haynes, serving Herrin as a firefighter isn't just a job—it's a way to protect and give back to the community that continues to shape not only his life but now his children's lives as well, creating an enduring connection between past, present, and future generations of Herrin Tigers.